Technology continues to play an increasingly important and permanent role in our day-to-day lives, with more and more people finding themselves sat behind a computer screen at work and a tablet screen or mobile phone at home.
Sitting behind a computer screen all day can really strain our eyes, making it harder to concentrate and stay engaged throughout our daily tasks. With eyestrain comes an array of serious and bothersome visual signs, which can include physical fatigue, decreased productivity and increased amount of work errors, as well as other signs that are more minor annoyances, such as swollen red eyes and twitching. Following these five tips, however, can easily reduce your risk of computer eyestrain and other symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS):
Go for Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams
It is advisable for computer users to have a comprehensive eye exam each year, as it is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent or treat vision problems that stem from excessive computer use. Try and have an eye exam before you start working on a computer or before you start a new job, and then have one every year thereafter. It is important to tell your optician how often you use a computer and how many hours you sit behind a screen each day both at home and at the office. Other important information you should tell your optician is how far away your eyes are from your computer screen in order for him or her to test your eyes at that specific working distance.
Blink More Often
This might sound like a useless tip, but blinking is extremely important when working behind a computer all day. Blinking moistens your eyes, helping to prevent dryness and irritation. If you pay attention to how many times you blink a minute while working at your computer, compared to when you’re not at your computer, you will realise that it’s quite a lot less. The tears that help coat the eye evaporate quicker during longer non-blinking periods, causing very dry and irritated eyes. If you are experiencing symptoms of dry eyes, you can contact your doctors and talk to him about artificial tears that you can use during your day to reduce and ease the symptoms.
Exercise your Eyes
Focusing fatigue is another cause of eyestrain, and a recommended tip that works to reduce focusing fatigue is to frequently exercise your eyes throughout your working day. Start the exercise by looking away from your computer at a distant object every 20 minutes, do this for about 20 seconds and blink frequently. Looking away from you screen allows your eye’s focusing muscles to relax, and by doing so it reduces fatigue as well as helping your focusing ability to avoid locking up.
Take Frequent Breaks
Frequent breaks not only help your eyes recover from the strain caused from working at your computer, but also help with back, neck and shoulder pain. Try to take at least two 15 minute breaks from your computer each working day to reduce body discomfort and eyestrain. During these minibreaks it is also advisable to stand up, go for a short walk and stretch your limbs, both of which will aid with reducing tension and sore muscles.
Soothe your Eyes
You can further soothe your sore eyes or take care of your dark circles by using a home remedy or by booking yourself into a spa and have one of their many facial treatments that will undoubtedly rejuvenate and soothe some of your accumulated eyestrain. Facial treatments will also help with reducing puffy and baggy eyes, helping you to feel refreshed and ready for the week ahead.
The above five tips will contribute significantly to the health and wellbeing of your eyes, helping you stay healthy and feel more comfortable and throughout your workday.
Bio:
The above written article and information is compliments from Zoe at the Shuiqi Spa & Fitness at Atlantis the Palm, Dubai.