The average business professional spends 40-50 hours a week in front of a computer screen. Teachers are beginning to use the computer more in schools, and even children are spending their time after-school in front of a monitor. It’s difficult to find a business or home without a computer in it these days, but this much usage can result in eye problems, such as eye strain and fatigue.
Dr. Wong, Medical Director and Chief of LASIK Surgery at TLC Laser Eye Centers in Torrance, California, offers advice concerning this problem. Some of the tips include, but are not limited to:
1. Be sure to give your eyes a break if you spend hours in front of a computer. Keeping your focus at the same distance for long periods of time is like holding your arms out for extended time ~ they will get exhausted. Fortunately our eyes adapt quickly, so either take a break from the screen or focus on some distant poster, photo or scene that will give your eyes’ muscles of accommodation a change of focus.
2. Don’t forget to blink your eyes! I think we subconsciously feet that at any moment, our computer will crash and we will lose all our work. Thus computer users are more prone to dry eyes because we don’t blink enough. Take a few moments to close or blink your eyes consciously and this will relieve the symptoms of dryness. You’ll be surprised ~ your work will still be on the screen!
3. Many computer screens emit electromagnetic radiation that may prove harmful to your eyes if there is no ambient or background light. Try to avoid working on your computer in complete darkness or very low light conditions.
This advice comes from Nova Solutions, Inc
Viewing your monitor at a downward angle has also been proven to reduce eye strain. When you look downward – the natural position for viewing close work – your eye lids cover more of the surface of the eye which lets less moisture escape, thus reducing dry eye syndrome.