Top Tips To Protect Your Vision From Computer Use

Here at our practice, we know that using the computer and other electronic devices is a part of everyday life. As we become more reliant on technology, however, we also need to be thinking about how to protect our eyes from extended computer use. Fortunately, Young H. Choi MD. has some helpful tips for you.

Tips For Protecting Your Vision From Computer Use

Your eye health is important to your overall quality of life, so take some steps to protect them. Even if you work in an office all day and can't avoid prolonged computer usage, there are things you can do to help keep your eyes healthy.

1. One important thing is how far away you are from the computer. It's recommended that you sit about an arm's length away. This is close enough where you can see what you need to without straining, but far enough away that you won't damage your eyes from being too close.
2. The positioning of your laptop computer or monitor is important in another way. Keep it a few inches below eye level, like four or five inches. This gives you the optimum angle for your eyes and can help keep them moisturized during long work sessions. Of course, if you're a bit taller or shorter you may have to adjust from these numbers a bit.
3. Adjust your brightness to match the room that you're in. If you're in a bright room, keep your monitor bright. If you're in a dark room, you can lower the brightness a little bit. You want your screen to be the brightest thing in the room, but not by that much.
4. This may sound unusual, but make sure that you're blinking often. Usually, we blink around 15 to 20 times per minute. Focusing on a computer screen could reduce that by around half. Make a conscious effort to blink more often. Otherwise, your eyes can dry out and become fatigued.
5. Another simple step to take is cleaning your computer screen. A clean screen produces less glare, which means less stress for your eyes.
6. On that note, there are other ways to avoid glare. If the lights in your home or office are too bright, switch them out for lower wattage bulbs. Also, make sure that you don't sit with a window behind you. Depending on the time of day, that seating position can mean more glare and more eyestrain.
7. Taking occasional breaks can also do wonders for your eye health. A good rule of thumb is that for every two hours or so of screen time, take a 15 minute break. Close your eyes and let them become lubricated again. It's also a great idea to get up, walk around, and stretch. The rest of your body will thank you, and your eyes will be refreshed and ready to tackle the next project in just a few minutes.

Those are just a few of the ways that you can combat digital eyestrain. If you have any questions or encounter any eye problems, contact Young H. Choi MD and associates today. Our practice is ready to help.