We have all heard people talk about how staring at a computer screen makes our eyesight bad. But that is not really true, because there is no real evidence that screens can cause permanent eye damage. But it is inevitable that staring at a computer screen will make your eyes really uncomfortable. Even though most of those symptoms will go away after not looking at the screen they can disrupt your productivity levels at work. Looking at a screen for a long period will make your eyes tired and watery. That is because your eyes have nerves that will start sending signals to your brain when they are strained and they will get watery. Because the exposure to blue light that radiates from the screen will strain your eyes and cause discomfort you need to protect them.
How Does It Affect Your Eye Health?
The blue light will pass through your cornea and your lens and reach your retina and that is why blue light can prematurely age your eyes. There have been some researches that have shown that too much exposure to blue light could possibly damage your eyes. There are two things that can happen to your eyes and those are digital eye strain and retina damage.
Digital eye strain is caused by the blue light from the screen. Symptoms of eye strain are usually dry and irritated eyes, fatigue and not benign able to focus. If you keep forcing your eyes and looking at a screen for an unnatural period of time you might damage your retinal cells.
Some signs that you shouldn’t be looking at a computer screen anymore are itchy eyes, headaches, dry or watery eyes, burning, blurred vision and difficulty focusing.
How to Minimize Eye Damage from Computer Screens?
- Take Regular Breaks
If you are still not done with your work but your eyes are starting to hurt, close them for a few minutes and focus on objects that are in the distance. If you can, it is best to take a walk to shift your focus to the computer screen
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- Position the Computer Screen Properly
A computer screen should be 20 to 28 inches away from your face. The top of your screen should be below your eye level and it should be tilted at a 20° angle. In order to reduce the stress on your eyes, you should keep a downward gaze.
- Get an Eye Exam
When you are working a job that requires you to look at a computer screen the whole time you will need to have your eyes checked regularly even if you think that you see perfectly. If you have never been to an eye exam all you need to do is look up an optometrist near me and pick the one with the best reviews.
- Prevent Dry Eyes
If you have to stare at a screen the whole day, help your eyes by getting a humidifier that will moisturize the air as well as using some eye drops to keep your eyes moist. But instead of going into a pharmacy and buying whatever eye drops consult with a professional before making the purchase.
- Adjust Your Computer Screen Brightness to A Comfortable Level
The tick with this one is adjusting your desk lamps in a way that they don’t create any glares on your screen. Other things you will want to adjust are your blinds so you don’t get any glares for the outside or to stop the sun from shining on your screen. Once you have all the lighting adjusted it is time to adjust the brightness of your screen. Make sure that it isn’t too bright nor too dark. Keep it at a recommended setting or a bit darker.
- Have Proper Posture
Having proper posture while you are working will not only help your eyes be less tired but it will also help you with neck and back pain. As we have said before you should adjust your chair and screen at a 20-degree angle and 28 inches away from your face but you have to make sure that you can rest your feet comfortably on the ground.
Overall, there isn’t any proof that looking at a computer screen will cause permanent eye damage, it can only irritate them.