Working from home comes with many perks. You get to skip your commute, and many remote workers enjoy being able to have more control over their work environment. While you might enjoy working out of your home office, it does come with the potential downside of being in front of your computer screen for prolonged periods of time. Taking these steps to ease eye strains while working from home can help you preserve your eye health, even when you’re dealing with overtime.
Block Out Blue Light
Blue light is found in sunlight, and it is emitted by computer screens. While blue light has not been shown to cause retinal damage, it does have the potential to raise your risk of eye disease. To avoid eye strain from blue light, you can wear special glasses that block the beams, or you can use special filters that work on your computer screen.
Find the Right Monitor Placement
Constant exposure to blue light isn’t the only factor that contributes to eye strain. Your eyes may also be strained from trying to focus too hard to see words and images that are on the screen. Ideally, your computer monitor should be about 20 to 26 inches away from you, and it is best if you have to view it with a slightly downward gaze. You might also need to adjust the tilt of the computer until your face is parallel to the screen.
Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
Frequent breaks from the computer screen are essential, and this rule makes it possible to rest your eyes without having to take too much time away from your work. The 20-20-20 rule requires you to stop working every 20 minutes to look 20 feet away from 20 seconds. This brief respite from staring at the screen gives your eyes a chance to refocus and recover from the strain. Keep in mind that your ophthalmologist may recommend doing this more frequently if you already have a serious eye condition.
Get Your Vision Checked
Having trouble with focusing and visual acuity can increase your risk of developing eye strain. A retina doctor in Brooklyn can assess your vision and let you know if you could benefit from wearing special glasses for computer use or if you need other types of eye care. Before your vision exam, make sure to take note of how long you spend at the computer along with other factors such as how far you sit away from the screen. Your eye doctor will use this information to get a fuller understanding of your risk for eye strain.
Eye strain can leave you with headaches along with blurred vision that makes it hard to manage your daily tasks. You’ll often notice these symptoms after hours of working on the computer, but they can linger long after you stop working for the day. Making eye strain prevention a priority helps you be more productive during your workday, and you’ll be less likely to need special eye care services as you advance in your career.