Computer Eyestrain

Keep your eyes healthy in the digital age:

August is Eye Injury Prevention Month, a good time to look at the growing problem of computer eyestrain. Between work and home, more people are spending more time
peering at computer screens than watching TV.

Here’s how to set up your computer to minimize eyestrain:

• Position the monitor 25″ to 30″ from your eyes, which is about the distance to your fingertip when your arm is stretched out in front of you.
• Set monitor height so that the top edge is even with your sight line. Tilt the screen upward so you are not looking at the image at an angle.
• Set monitor screen resolution so that text is easy to read—600 x 800 pixels is standard.
• Set monitor’s brightness to low and contrast to high.
• Set monitor refresh rate to 75 hz or higher.
• Minimize glare by making sure background light level is about the same as the screen light level. Minimize direct sunlight or bright lights in front of or behind the monitor. Attach a glare shield, if necessary.
• Place a document holder at the same level as the monitor to prevent repetitive eye movement from paper to screen.
• Keep the screen clean.

Follow these tips to keep your eyes healthy at the computer:

• Give your eyes a 20/20/20 break. Every 20 minutes focus on something at least 20 feet away and hold that focus for at least 20 seconds.
• Blink often. The average blink rate is 22 times per minute, but it goes down to 7 per minute when looking at a monitor, which causes the eye lens to dry out. Use eye drops, if necessary.
• Place your palms over your eyes for 60 seconds every 30 minutes. This warms the muscles around your eyes and relaxes them.

Click Here to read the full article from First Benefits Mutual Insurance.