More and more people use technology as part of their daily routine. Unfortunately, staring at a computer screen all day can cause strain on your eyes that could lead to health problems. Fortunately, to help keep your eyes healthy, here are 3 tips:
1. Check your Computer and Office Equipment
If you sit in front of a computer for most of the day, it is crucial that you optimize the space and equipment to make the experience easier on your eyes (and yourself in general). In fact, here are some things you can try to make your workday easier:
Adjust the Computer Screen
If you have to stare at a computer screen all day, you need to make the necessary adjustments to take some stress of your eyes. One simple thing that you can do to help relieve eye strain and general aches is to tilt your screen below eye level by 15 to 20 degrees.
Reduce Glare
Whenever you can, adjust the lighting around you to prevent glare from your computer screen. You can easily prevent glare by positioning your screen away from strong light sources and using floor lamps instead of desktop lamps. You should also close your curtains as needed to prevent glare.
Adjust the Screen Brightness
One great way to reduce stress on your eyes is to ensure that the screen is not too bright or too dark. If you work through the day and into the night, you can find programs, such as f.lux, that will change your screen accordingly to make the transition easier on your eyes.
Use Magnification
If you find the words on the screen to be too difficult to read, simply enlarge the text. You can easily adjust text size in browsersand through different office programs. However, just keep in mind that images and graphics on certain webpages may look more pixellated as the magnification is increased.
2. Make sure to Take your Breaks
Whenever possible, be sure to take breaks to give your eyes and body a break. While many people may wait to take longer breaks, very short breaks taken more frequently throughout the day can benefit you as well. For example, even if you look away from your computer screen for just 20 seconds after every 20 minutes, you can help reduce the strain. For longer breaks, it is highly recommended to get up and walk around to let the rest of your body relax as well.
If you wear contact lenses, it is especially important to take breaks since your eyes may dry out from extended computer use. Unfortunately, many people actually blink less when staring at computer screens, so their eyes are less protected.
3. Ask your Eye Doctor for Advice
If you have a lot of difficulty when using computers, you should contact your eye doctor and make an appointment. If you have your eyes regularly examined, your eye doctor will be able to help correct any vision problems that can affect how you see computers.
With these 3 tips, you can help make using computers a more enjoyable experience.
Greg Taylor is a business coach. He shares lesser known tips about how to perform better on the job on small business blogs. Visit the www.nextdaylenses.com for ordering lenses online.