16 - TCnbc Magazine
Eye strain can be a regular occurrence especially when your job entails staring at a computer screen all day. Couple that with screen time at home (tv, gaming, etc.) and you’ve probably got some very tired eyes! Recently, the Vision Council found that 70% of working adults surveyed reported some kind of digital eye strain. That’s a lot of people suffering from something that can be easily prevented or alleviated.
Experts believe eye strain does not have long term vision consequences but anyone who has experienced the burning, sore sensations that eye strain can cause knows it’s a distracting problem and not something to ignore if you’re the type to spend a lot of time in front of a screen. Eye strain can manifest in many different ways. Symptoms can include:
•Dry eyes
•Watery eyes
•Sore/tired/burning eyes
•Difficulty focusing
•Headaches
•Increased sensitivity to light
•Blurring or double vision
Luckily, relieving eye strain is easy with just a few changes in your work routine. Here are a few easy ways you can help keep your eyes healthy:
Use the 20-20-20 rule
The idea here is that every 20 minutes, you take 20 seconds to look at something 20 feet (or more) away from you. This is good for your eyes because it forces them to focus on something other than the computer screen and gives them a little bit of a workout while taking a break from the screen. You can apply this to your sitting habits as well by getting up and away from your desk every 20 minutes to walk 20 feet for 20 seconds or more. Not only is this good for your eyes and circulation but for your morale as well!
Applications
There are tons of web/mobile apps that can help you remember to keep your eyes healthy while at your screen. We can’t talk about them all but here are a few I would recommend:
-Workrave, is a handy little application (Windows and Linux) you can download for free onto your desktop. Totally customizable, Workrave pops up and prompts you for a “micro break” or a longer exercise break at time intervals you determine. The app will even suggest exercises for your eyes, back and shoulders to help keep you limber.
Keep Your Eyes Healthy At Work With These Quick Tips