Working on computers

15 July, 2021

Working on computers

Working from home has become a big part of our lives and many of us are spending more time on computers and electronic devices. This means more time concentrating at near distances for extended periods of time. This is particularly true for the younger generation and raises serious concerns for developing visual systems.

More than 50 per cent of computer users will experience discomfort and vision problems when using a computer for long periods. The common symptoms include eyestrain, blurred vision, dry and irritated eyes, headaches and general discomfort when viewing the screen. These can be caused by an uncorrected vision problem, dry eyes, improper viewing distances, poor posture, or environmental factors such as poor lighting and glare from the screen.

What can you do?

1. Improve your posture and take breaks

• The screen distance should be arm’s length for laptops and devices and slightly further for desktop computers.
• Sit up straight
• Take a break from any near work after 20 minutes. You can do this by focussing your eyes on something far away, a bird in a tree for example. You can also do eye stretches by looking at the corners of the room to help relax your eyes.

2. Lighting

• Ensure the room lighting is similar to the screen brightness.

 

What can we do to help?

• We will test your prescription and assess whether you need glasses for computer use
• We will check your eye alignment and focusing stamina to determine whether your binocular vision system can cope with their near demands.
• We will check your eye health and prescribe eye drops if you suffer with dry eyes
• We will assess and recommend a blue light filter anti reflective coating to be applied to your glasses to help reduce eye strain.

 

We recommend that the entire family have their vision checked every two years, irrespective of whether there is a vision problem. A regular eye test will reveal signs of eye strain and diseases, and ensure that the visual system is functioning optimally.