With the majority of us still working from home, the importance of eye health has never been so apparent. Whilst prioritising all aspects of our health and wellbeing, it’s also important to consider your vision and the overall health of your eyes, and taking steps to set up a productive home office environment to ensure a safe working day is imperative. It’s likely that your job requires you to sit in front of a computer monitor for the majority of your day and unfortunately, looking at a screen can take its toll on your eye health, so it’s important you know how to take care of this aspect of your wellbeing. Without the distractions of an office environment we may find ourselves staring at a screen even longer than usual.
Maintain good posture
You may not realise your posture and eyes are connected, but maintaining the proper sitting position while you work is actually the first line of defence against eye strain. When you sit down at your computer, make sure your feet are flat on the floor and your wrists are slightly elevated, rather than resting on your keyboard. Your screen should be positioned just below your natural line of sight.
Take frequent breaks
Focusing on one thing for too long can make your eyes feel tired and dry. So, to prevent this from happening while you’re working at your computer, you could try using the 20-20-20 rule. Every twenty minutes, avert your gaze from your screen to an object located about twenty feet away for twenty seconds. This is a quick and simple technique in the importance of eye health, that can help relax the muscles in your eyes, preventing them from becoming sore and tired throughout.
Optimise the lighting
Ideally, your workstation should be in a room with a window and natural light, as daylight and a bit of fresh air will work wonders on your mental wellbeing. Position your screen in a place that will stop any sun rays from reflecting onto your screen. If you need a bit of extra light, try a desk lamp with an LED bulb, as they’re more energy-efficient and provide softer, healthier light for your eyes.
Blink more
According to several optical studies, not only do we blink up to 70% less when looking at a screen, but when we do blink, our eyes don’t close completely. This means that tears don’t get the chance to cover the entire surface of the cornea, keeping it hydrated, which could result in them drying out. So try and be a bit more conscious with your blinking throughout the day and you will help to increase your eye health.
Keep hydrated
Failing to consume the recommended daily intake will not only leave you feeling dehydrated, but could mean that your eyes start to suffer too. It seems so simple, but the more water you drink, the more comfortable your eyes will feel, and according to experts, you should be drinking between six and eight glasses of water per day to combat dry eye syndrome. Healthier skin, hair and digestive system are all benefits of correct hydration as well as the importance of eye health.
Increase your font size
If you notice yourself squinting to try to read the text on your computer screen, increase your font size. This can reduce some of the stress on your eyes and prevent unnecessary strain. If it’s within your budget, you can also opt for a bigger monitor, which naturally increases the size of whatever you’re working on.
Get an eye test
If you haven’t checked your vision for a while, make an appointment for an eye test. Your optician will not only check the overall health of your eyes and prevent diseases such as glaucoma, but they will also be able to prevent others that are not directly related to vision, such as high blood pressure.
Working from home is a great way to keep up a normal routine with a minimum of disruption, and with the above tips on how you can keep comfortable while out of the office, you can protect against eye strain.