With computers becoming increasingly common in the workplace, you have no option but to keep staring at your screen all day. But prolonged and concentrated use of a computer is not only bad for your spine and mental health; it can be seriously damaging to your eyes as well. Though computers do not cause permanent eye damage, it may cause problems like eye discomfort, headache, dry or watering eyes, blurred vision, change in color perception. Eye strain eventually leads to decreased productivity and more mistakes at work. Fortunately, you can avoid these problems by taking proper precautions while at work. Here are some easy ways to keep your eyes healthy and beautiful despite your hectic 9am-6pm schedule:
1. Use Proper Lighting
Excessively bright light either from outdoor or indoor causes eye strain. Keep the lighting about half as bright as typically found in most offices. Use shades or blinds to eliminate exterior light. Use fewer light bulbs, fluorescent tubes or lower intensity bulbs/tubes to reduce interior lighting. Position your computer, so windows are to the side of the screen, instead of in front or behind it.2. Customize Your Computer Display
Position your monitor to be slightly below eye level to reduce eye strain. Keep the brightness of your computer's screen approximately the same as the brightness of your surroundings. Comfort your eyes by using larger font size, especially when reading or composing long documents. Keep the background black and use white font color.Look at far distant things every 30 minutes
Give your eyes break from a constant gaze at the screen by looking as far off into the distance as possible for 1-2 minutes after every 30 minutes. Ideally, look at trees, grass or objects with soothing, light colors.3. Splash Clean Water On Eyes
Splashing cold water in your eyes once or twice a day helps to relax your eyes and protect them from becoming overly strained. Make sure you don't wash your eyes more than two times a day. It's because eyes clean themselves every minute during blinking. Excessive water splashing on eyes can wipe out the tear fluid that is responsible for maintaining the pH and immune proteins to protect eyes from infection. Also, Read About: Did You Know About These 5 Super Herbs for Healthy Eyes4. Blink More
As mentioned above, blinking moistens your eyes and protects them from dryness and irritation. While working on computers, people often blink less, and many blinks performed during screen usage are only partial lid closures. Tear fluid on the eye's surface evaporates more rapidly during prolonged non-blinking phases, which can cause dry eyes. So make sure you blink your eyes 12-15 times every minute not just while using a computer but throughout the day.5. Use Computer Eyewear
Get customized computer glasses created by your eye care professional, especially if you wear contact lenses that become dry and uncomfortable during sustained computer use. Ideally, choose photochromic lenses or lightly tinted lenses for your computer eyewear to reduce exposure to harmful blue light emitted by digital devices. Take care of your eyes and be productive in the workplace. Also, Read About: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Dry eyeAbout Author: This write-up was contributed to Credihealth by Rajita GuptaAuthor Bio: I am an interest-driven blogger and creative graphic designer based in Haryana, Northern India. I hold a Masters in Computer Application from Kurukshetra University. Besides the healthcare industry, I am passionate about writing for travel, fashion, lifestyle, and technology. Also, if required get the consultations with the best Eye Doctor near you.Reviewed by