Work In An Office Setting? How To Care For Your Vision
If you work in an office each day, there's a good chance you're on a computer for most of your day. This day-to-day work on a computer can wreak havoc on your vision. If you are staring at a screen all day long, you might experience tension headaches, dry eyes, vision concerns, and shoulder or neck pain. Read on for helpful tips to care for your eyes and your vision if you work in an office setting.
1. Take Computer Breaks
You need to take a break away from the computer from time to time. Don't just go on your phone during this break from your computer; you need a technology break altogether. Look away from the screens to give your eyes a much needed break and to allow the eyes to focus on something else in the room. Look away from the screen at least every 20 minutes for 20 seconds at a time. This helps re-moisten the eyes and resets your focus. If you stare at a screen all day, your eyes typically don't blink enough or generate enough moisture. You'll have dry eye issues and stress on the eyes, as well as a problem with focusing after you finally look away. This is why these breaks are so important.
2. Adjust Your Seat
There's a good chance your computer chair is not the right height, doesn't sit close enough to your computer, or doesn't have enough support for you to sit in front of a screen all day. If you have to hunch over to look at your screen because the arm rests are in the way or your chair isn't supportive enough that you have to twist your body, you aren't going to be able to see the computer screen as you should. If you need to, make an adjustment to your seat, even asking to get a new chair altogether. Your chair should be supportive, and you should be able to sit up straight and see your computer screen without glares. Change your chair to prevent hunching, squinting to see, and neck and shoulder pain.
3. Reduce Screen Glare
If the window in your office is casting a glare on your monitor or if the light above your desk is causing you problems, adjust the monitor, adjust the lighting, or move your computer elsewhere to reduce the glare. Glares on your screen will cause you to squint to see. This squinting will eventually cause vision concerns and stress on the eyes, as well as tension headaches.
If you work in an office setting each day, you shouldn't work at the cost of your vision or your eye health. Talk to your eye doctor about other vision care tips if you work in an office.