10 Ways to Prevent Eye Fatigue at Work

The modern digital world far exceeds the expectations of people just a few decades ago. There’s less analog television watching these days; instead, people spend more of their time in front of a screen defined by a constant stream of trillions of ones and zeroes. 

As with many things, these technological marvels come at a price; for years now, medical experts have been alarmed by the increasing incidences of eye fatigue, eyestrain, or computer vision syndrome. The latter is not a severe condition and often disappears or fades once you rest your eyes. However, it will make you suffer from itchy eyes, blurry vision, dry eyes, and light sensitivity before it goes away. But there are steps you can take to prevent eye fatigue at work.

• Adjust Your Lighting 

You can get eye fatigue from activities requiring close-up focus, like reading. Improving the lighting in your room can help you reduce the chance of eye fatigue when you read. Repositioning your lights or adding a shade to your lamp will help you significantly improve the lighting. If you are watching TV at home, ensure the room is softly lit so your eyes are not overwhelmed. 

• Take Breaks

Anytime you do close-up work, read, or work on a digital screen, take breaks every few minutes. Experts developed the 20-20-20 rule, where you are to look away at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of work. The rests in between will help your eye rest and prevent you from getting eye fatigue. 

• Artificial Tears

One of the crucial symptoms of eye fatigue is temporary dry eye syndrome. Artificial tears are one way you can combat this or ease the effects of this symptom. They help keep your eyes moist and comfortable.

• Increase Your Blink Rate

A common cause of dry eye symptoms from eye fatigue is blinking much less when using a digital screen. You can minimize the chance of this happening by increasing your blink rate. 

• Air Quality

Another common cause of eye dryness associated with eye fatigue is the air quality of your workspace. You could use a humidifier to add moisture into the air and adjust the thermostat to regulate blowing air.

• Special Eyewear

You could reduce the chances of developing eye fatigue by using eyewear specifically designed for computer use. You can talk to your eye doctor about options, like special tints or lens coatings. 

• Use a Blue Light Filter

Another way to reduce the effects of eye fatigue at work is to use a blue light filter on your screen. This will block most of the blue light that leads to eyestrain and limits the production of the melatonin hormone. 

• Adjust Your Monitor Position

The position of your monitor plays a crucial role in eye fatigue because a poorly placed monitor leads to neck and back pain, worsening your eye fatigue. Your monitor should always be about an arm's length away and at your eye level.

• Adjust Monitor Settings

Another reason for eye fatigue is setting the screen font size too small, making you strain to read it. Increasing the size will make it easy for you to read better.

• Reduce Glare

Eyestrain can also develop from glare falling off your computer screen from a window in your office. You can change the position of your screen or cover the window with a shade to mitigate this.

For more ways to prevent eye fatigue at work, visit Okaloosa Eye Care at our office in Crestview, Florida. Call (850) 608-0003 to book an appointment today.