A Spotlight on Digital Eye Strain
March in San Jose is a beautiful time of year! And with the kids on spring break, you may not want to talk about work, but March is also Workplace Eye Safety Month. And at Eye Medical Clinic, we care about your eyes!
Different Workplaces, Different Safety Protocols
When your job is in a manufacturing setting, you have to worry about things like debris, chemicals and flying objects such as metal, wood and glass. Safety glasses and goggles are the top safety tool to protect your eyes. In a healthcare setting, face shields can protect your eyes from chemicals and bodily fluids.
But when you work in front of a computer all day (like so many of us do!), it’s a different kind of eye damage you have to be on the lookout for. With more remote learning and remote work happening than ever before, at Eye Medical Clinic, we believe it’s the ideal time to spotlight a growing problem; digital eye strain.
Protecting Your Eyes in the Digital Age
Keeping your eyes safe at work includes at your desktop and on your smartphone and other devices. According to The Vision Council, over 60% of Americans report symptoms of digital eye strain, which may include blurriness, redness, fatigue, dry eye, headache and neck and shoulder stress. There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome (CVS).
- Follow the “20-20-20 rule”—take a 20-second break from the screen every 20 minutes and look at an object 20 feet away.
- Use proper lighting; one way is to reduce overhead lighting to eliminate screen glare.
- Adjust computer display settings: increase text size and contrast for comfort, and adjust the brightness of the display, so it’s close to the same brightness of your surroundings.
- Position your screen approximately 26-30 inches away—about an arm’s distance—from eye level for proper viewing distance when at a computer. Our eye care specialists can help you determine which distance is best for your personalized needs and workstation during your routine comprehensive eye exam..
- Blink more often and take a few five-minute breaks throughout your work day.
- Talk to your Eye Medical Clinic doctor about getting computer glasses; these are lenses with anti-reflective (AR) coating which reduces glare.
One of the most important things you can do to combat digital eye strain is to have a routine comprehensive eye exam at Eye Medical Clinic. A comprehensive eye exam will also find any dry eye issues, which often go hand in hand with digital eye strain. At Eye Medical Clinic, our advanced dry eye treatments administered by our dry eye specialists are among the best in the country.
At Eye Medical Clinic, we want you to See Every Moment with the vision you deserve. We are at the forefront of research and development in comprehensive eye care, including prevention and treatment. Schedule an appointment today for a consultation if you have any questions about keeping your eyes safe at work.
