How to Protect Your Eyes and Boost Your Health at Work: Tips from Optical Experts
Your eyes are one of the most important organs of your body. They provide you with the ability to see, perceive and interpret the world around you. However, with our modern lifestyle, we are putting our eyes through an immense amount of strain. From the time we wake up until we go to bed, we are constantly staring at various electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, and televisions. This can lead to various eye problems, some of which can be severe.
At work, we tend to spend long hours staring at our computer screens. This can lead to a condition called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). According to the American Optometric Association, CVS affects between 50 to 90 percent of all people who work on a computer.
How Does CVS Impact Our Health?
CVS can lead to many vision issues such as dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, and eye strain. It can also lead to neck and shoulder pain. If left untreated, CVS can also lead to long-term vision problems. These symptoms can seriously impact our productivity and quality of work at the workplace. As a result, it is essential that we take steps to reduce our risk of developing CVS.
How Can I Prevent CVS?
The good news is that avoiding CVS is simple. Below are some tips to prevent CVS and protect your eye health:
- Take Regular Breaks: It is essential to take regular breaks from your computer work. Follow the 20-20-20 rule, which means every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break, and look 20 feet away.
- Adjust Your Screen: Ensure your computer screen is placed at a comfortable distance (about an arm’s length away) and at a comfortable height. Adjust the brightness and contrast of the screen to reduce eye strain.
- Use Adequate Lighting: Work in well-lit surroundings to reduce eye strain. Avoid harsh and direct light sources, as they can damage your eyes.
- Blink Frequently: Blink frequently to keep your eyes moist and prevent dryness. Dry eyes can cause irritation and redness.
- Visit an Optometrist Regularly: Regular eye checkups can help detect problems early, preventing long-term vision problems.
Conclusion
Taking care of our eye health is crucial, especially when we are spending extended durations of time at work, staring at computer screens. Computer Vision Syndrome can lead to various eye problems, but it is preventable by taking simple measures mentioned above. Following these tips can help reduce eye strain, prevent eye problems, and improve our overall productivity and quality of work.
