Computer Straining Your Eyes? How to Prevent it!
Hang any material you are copying at the same distance and as close to the screen as possible. Use a manuscript holder. This will prevent constant refocusing to differing distances and directions.
Minimise glare from your computer screen due to reflections from lights or windows. This can be done by adjusting the direction of your screen or by attaching a glare reduction filter. Your pupil changes in size according to the brightness of the screen and excessive movement of the pupil caused by multiple reflections can cause headaches. Bright sunlight from a window behind your screen will have a similar effect. Glare also causes you to screw up your eyes, which if prolonged, will lead to headaches. However make sure your desk and key board are sufficiently illuminated.
Occasional use of artificial tear eye drops (as recommended by your eye doctor) can help dry eyes symptoms. We tend to blink less when concentrating intently, and when looking straight ahead much of the eye is exposed leading to increased tear evaporation and dry eyes. Remember to blink more.
Keep your computer screen clean. Dust and fingerprints can reduce clarity.
Poor quality computer screens can lead to eye strain. Low resolution, low pixel numbers and high contrast colors can put an extra strain on the eyes when reading from a screen. The Refresh Rate of a computer is a measure of how often the display unit refreshes or redraws the picture per second. In the past rates of 60Hz were acceptable, but flickering of the screen was evident at this rate causing headaches. It is now recommended that the rate should not be less than 70Hz and most new monitors are 75-85 Hz.
Sensible use of your computer will reduce headaches and eye discomfort, and increase productivity.
About the Author: Dr Andrew Fink MD FRCOphth is a practising Eye Surgeon in Tel Aviv, Israel . Originally from England he specialises in Laser Vision Correction, and Cataract Surgery. He is medical adviser to Healthylens.com, an on line discount contact lens service. (http://www.healthylens.com)