Computers and Eyes

At Optique Opticians in Battersea, we believe using computers is unavoidable. Most of us spend 50 hours a week staring at the computer.

Working long periods on the computer can strain the eyes causing symptoms like headaches, ‘tired eyes’. Blurred vision and have difficulty in focusing.

Optique Opticians in Battersea advices that if you spend a lot of your time looking at computers it is crucial you take regular breaks and have regular eye examinations.

Computers and other screens - Dos and Don’ts

  • Make sure that if you need glasses to look at a screen, you wear them!
  • Blink regularly. When focusing on a screen your reflexes will slow down, tear production will reduce, and you will blink less, causing dry and uncomfortable eyes.
  • Remember the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away (six metres) for 20 seconds to give your eye muscles a break and help increase the rate of blinking.
  • Keep the distance of the monitor from your eyes between 40 and 76 centimetres (16 to 30 inches). Most people find a distance of 50 to 65 centimetres (20 to 26 inches) comfortable.
  • Make sure that the top of the monitor is at a level at or slightly below your horizontal eye level.
  • Tilt the top of the monitor away from you at a 10 to 20 degree angle. This will enable you to create an optimum viewing angle.
  • Keep your screen free of dust and fingerprints.
  • Try and position your monitor so that you do not get distracting reflections (e.g. from a window).
  • Use an adjustable chair that enables you to sit at a proper angle and distance from your computer monitor screen.
  • Use a character size that is visible. The character size is an important factor since it determines the distance at which you prefer to view the monitor.
  • Make sure your workstation is set up comfortably; avoid poor posture which can lead to neck, back, arm or other aches.

Dealing with computer eye strain

Many people who use computers complain of eye strain. Some of the symptoms which are experienced are:

  • Eye discomfort
  • Dry eyes
  • Headaches
  • Sore, tired, burning or itchy eyes
  • Increased sensitivity to light
  • Watery eyes
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Dry eyes
  • Blurred or double vision

The symptoms above can cause eye strain but you can take steps to reduce It.:

Have Regular Eye Test

By having regular eye tests, the optometrist will check the health of eyes and advice if correction is needed for comfortable vision. When you have your test, let the optometrist know you use computers and how often.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 stipulate that employees using Visual Display Units (VDUs or computer monitors) should be provided with an eye examination, funded by their employer, when requested.

Take a break from the looking at the computer

By regularly looking away from your screen into the distance will relaxes the muscles used for focusing, reducing eye tiredness.

Make yourself a drink and physically walk away from the computer,

Ensure you have short and frequent breaks.

Use good  lighting

Good lightening is important. But too much light can cause eye strain. Therefore, use curtain, blinds to reduce direct light on monitors.

Reduce glare on computer screen

You can reduce the brightness on some computers, use filters on monitors to reduce glare as this will cause eye strain.
If you wear glasses, using lenses with an anti-reflective coating reduces glare.

Adjust your monitor's settings

Computer’s display can be adjusted to help reduce eye strain and fatigue. Black print on a white background is the best combination for comfort. Reducing the amount of blue colours on your screen can also help. Blue light is short-wavelength visible light that is associated with more eye strain than longer-wavelength hues, such as orange and red.

Wear Blue control lenses specifically for computers, ipads and laptops for the greatest comfort.

Blue Control Lenses

Nowadays, we spend more time using a wide variety of digital devices to work, learn and be entertained. Recent digital screens are often equipped with powerful light source such as LED.

These digital screens emit intense blue light and can cause eye strain after long exposure.

Computers and Eyes from Optique, opticians in Battersea

SeeCoat Blue provides a solution to such stressful conditions.

The other added benefits are:

  • Better contrast perception.
  • Scratch Resistant ,water ,dirt and grease repellence.
  • The lenses have also proven to help with Night driving and reduce dry eye symptoms

If you wear contact lenses, consider wearing glasses when using your computer as contact lenses can become dry and uncomfortable during sustained computer work.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 state that if an employee requires glasses specifically for VDU use, the employer is obliged to pay.

For help and advice on Computers and Eyes contact, Optique Opticians in Battersea, 276 Battersea Park Road, Battersea, London, SW11 3BS. Tel: 020 72282754

The information on this site is for Educational Purposes Only and is not designed to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any health conditions.

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