You know that unusual headache you sometimes get and you just can’t
seem to pinpoint the cause? Well, it may not be your sinuses or stress
on the job. It could simply be a run-of-the-mill case of eye strain. Culprits
include inadequate lighting, poor seating arrangements and incorrect viewing
angle or distance from your workstation.
Signs and symptoms of eye strain include:
- Sore or tired eyes
- Itching or burning sensations in the eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Dry or watery eyes
- Difficulty focusing
Typically, we blink about 15 times per minute, but various studies have
shown that we blink half as often when using a computer. If the screen
is brighter than the surrounding light, your eyes struggle more to see,
according to the
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Computer screens emit higher amounts of blue light, which has shorter
wavelengths and higher amounts of energy than other colors in the spectrum.
Additionally, fluorescent and LED lighting produce more blue light than
the old fashioned incandescent light bulbs we all grew up with. Continued
exposure to blue light causes more damage to the retina and can lead to
age related macular degeneration, according to the website, Blue Light Exposed.
Some small adjustments to your computer will give your eyes a much needed
break, including these tips from the
AAO and the American Optometric Association:
- Reduce text size so you’re not squinting to read memos, emails and
- Decrease the contrast and/or brightness levels of your monitor screen.
- Cut glare on your screen using a matte screen filter.
- Sit 25 inches, or about arm’s length, from the computer screen
- Move the screen so you must look downward.
- Wear special glasses with coatings that block short-wavelength light.
- Use shaded lamps.
- Reduce or turn off overhead fluorescent or LED lighting.
If these suggestions don’t alleviate your eye strain symptoms or
your eyes are constantly red, blurry, watery, painful or overly sensitive
to light, you may require treatment from your ophthalmologist.