How to Combat Computer Eye Strain

It is fair to say that the majority of us use computers an awful lot in our everyday lives. We wake up in the morning and check the news on either the TV or the iPad, we then get to work and normally sit in front of a computer screen all day. Then when we get home we relax and unwind in front of the TV for the night. Constantly looking at screens such as at work can lead to eye strain with symptoms including fatigue, headaches, red eyes and decreased productivity. Eye strain is normally not serious and goes away once your eyes are rested, but with so many of us now looking at screens for the majority of our day, we have put together 7 handy tips to combat computer eye strain.

#1 – Get an eye test

This tip is pretty common sense. If you spend a lot of time working with computers and screens, it's worth getting a regular eye check with your optician to prevent and treat any issues that could be caused by looking at computer screens on a regular basis. Ensure you speak to your optician about how often you work with computers and how often you look at a screen on a day to day basis, as well as having a general eye exam to test your eyesight.

#2 – Upgrade your display

Upgrading your computer screen to a newer LCD monitor can help to avoid eye strain. Older monitors can sometimes flicker, causing increased symptoms of eye strain and LCD monitors are easier on the eye and usually have an anti-reflective surface. Choosing a screen with the highest resolution you can find is a great way to combat the effects of computer eye strain.

#3 – Adjust the settings on your monitor

Adjusting the computer's display settings can be a quick and easy way of reducing computer eye strain and ensuring you don't become too fatigued while working at your desk. Ensure the brightness is the same as the surroundings you are in and the text size is big enough for you to be able to read comfortably. Reducing the amount of blue on your screen can also be beneficial as blue light is short-wave visible light associated more with eye strain than other colours such as orange and red.

#4 – Reduce glare

Glare can occur from light-coloured painted walls or shiny surfaces around your computer screen and can lead to an increase in eye strain and fatigue while working at a computer. Anti-glare screens can be attached to computer screens to help reduce the effects of computer eye strain while reducing external light by using a computer hood or covering windows can help. Glasses and contact lenses are also available with anti-glare.

#5 – Make correct use of your workstation

Improper posture while sitting at your computer can quickly lead to fatigue as well as causing eye strain if you are leaning forward to read the screen. Ensure your chair is at the right height for you and that the computer screen is at eye level to reduce strain and the negative effects that can come from working with computers all day.

#6 – Blink more often

Blinking prevents dryness and irritation of the eyes and so is crucial if you're working for long periods at your computer. To reduce the risk of dry eyes while working at your computer, try blinking 10 times every 20 minutes in order to re-wet your eyes and prevent irritation or redness. If you regularly experience dry and irritated eyes, speak to your optician about artificial tears for use during the day when looking at your computer screen on a regular basis.

#7 – Rest your eyes and take frequent breaks

Taking frequent breaks away from your desk is crucial in combating the effects of computer eye strain; taking shorter but more frequent breaks from staring at your computer has been shown to significantly reduce discomfort and eye strain. During breaks, stand up, stretch and look away from your computer screen to things in the distance in order to exercise your eyes and give them a rest from staring at a close-up monitor. These mini-breaks will not only reduce eye strain but also improve productivity and reduce tension.

To sum up...

With many of us living most of our days immersed in a screen of some sort, be it a computer, TV or mobile phone, instances of eye strain and other problems associated with staring at screens for too long have increased. Giving yourself a break from looking at your computer can go a long way in combating the effects of computer eye strain, as can ensuring you have regular checkups with your optician and ensuring your working environment is conducive to working comfortably with a computer screen. Using a few of these handy tips you can improve the health of your eyes and combat the effects of computer eye strain.