Electronics are Harmful to Your Eyes! Here’s how you can keep them safe
– Prof. Dr. Mahipal S Sachdev, Chairman and Medical Director, Center for Sight, New Delhi
Whether you are an intern or a seasoned professional, you know that there’s no getting around the fact that you need to sit in front of your computer or laptop for long hours. While this isn’t something you can avoid, it is important to recognize that it’s not healthy for your eyes. Understanding how to keep your eyes healthy at work is extremely important so that you can take the proper precautions and enjoy great eye health. Keep reading to know more.
What is Computer Vision Syndrome?
The deterioration of eye health due to computers has become such a common occurrence that there is now a name for it – computer vision syndrome. Studies have shown that 50-90% of people who use computers regularly have at least one eye-related problem that’s correlated with prolonged screen use.
Some of the eye problems that are caused by prolonged screen use include:
Blurred vision
Dryness in the eyes
Redness in the eyes
Irritation in the eyes
It can also cause a few non-eye-related issues such as headaches and neck and back pain.
How to Protect Your Eyes from Mobile and Computer Screens?
One of the best ways to reduce some of the strain on your eyes is by following the 20x20x20 rule. The basic idea is that you need to give your eyes a break now and then so that the glare of the computer or mobile screen does not damage them too much. After every 20 minutes of staring at a computer, you should look at an object that is 20 feet away, for a minimum of 20 seconds.
Eye care for IT professionals – Tips to keep in mind!
Apart from following the 20x20x20 rule to give your eyes ample rest, there are a few other things you can do in order to ensure you’re taking care of your eyes in the world place:
1. Reduce the brightness or glare of the computer screen
2. Keep your computer monitor below your eye line, and make sure it is at least 20-28-inches away from your eye.
3. Blink frequently to make sure your eyes are sufficiently moisturized
4. Use lubricating eye drops if required
5. Try to get assigned to non-screen-based tasks that let you give your eyes some rest