I work in an office, what do I need to do to look after my eyes?
When you work in an office your eyesight can be vital for your job. If you spend all day using a computer, you may benefit from specs that are specifically set to focus on the screen. Looking after your vision at work isn’t just about having the right specs. Everyone is different in height and posture, so the first thing to do is work out whether your screen is positioned correctly for you. You also need to consider whether you get glare from lights or window reflections on your screen, putting strain on your eyes. Working at a computer, you should take regular breaks. Prolonged use can lead to staring and potentially dry eyes as a result of insufficient blinking.
If you have not had an eye test in the last couple of years and you work in an office, do book an appointment. Explain to the optometrist about the sort of work you do and they can offer you advice, and help you discover whether specs can help you.
Talk to a registered dispensing optician when it comes to choosing specs for work. Some lenses are better than others for computer use and the optician can advise.
Remember to ask about anti-reflection coatings as these can help to cut glare.
Will working at a computer screen hurt my eyes?
If you spend all day using a computer, you may benefit from specs that are specifically set to focus on the screen. Looking after your vision at work isn’t just about having the right specs. Everyone is different in height and posture, so the first thing to do is work out whether your screen is positioned correctly for you. You also need to consider whether you get glare from lights or window reflections on your screen, putting strain on your eyes. Working at a computer, you should take regular breaks. Prolonged use can lead to staring and potentially dry eyes as a result of insufficient blinking.
My eyes feel tired when I read for a long time or use the computer. What can I do?
Working at a computer, you should take regular breaks. Prolonged use can lead to staring and potentially dry eyes as a result of insufficient blinking.
Use the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away.
Why is screen position important?
It’s important to ensure your computer screen is positioned correctly. Adjust your screen and desk position if you get glare from lights or window reflections to avoid eyestrain.
How will glare on my computer screens affect my eyesight?
Glare can affect eyesight in various ways.
- Distracting glare can be caused by light being reflected off the front surface of spectacle lenses. Similarly, it may be from light reflected off the back surface (ie the inner side) of the lenses, so that the spectacle wearer sees the distracting reflection of their own eyes and objects behind them when looking forward. This kind of glare may cause eye fatigue, annoyance and distraction.
- Discomforting glare can be caused by normal light conditions, regardless of weather or time of day. It can be present when moving from one lighting condition to another and may cause ‘squinting’ and eye fatigue.
- Disabling glare comes from excessive, intense light that can occur when facing the sun, of from light reflected off smooth, shiny surfaces. Disabling glare can block vision because the intense light can cause significantly reduced contrast of the retinal image.
To diminish the effects of blinding or reflected glare it is strongly advisable to wear polarising filter lenses to counteract the reflected light. Polarised lenses reduce the amount of light passing through the lens by selective filtering.
What are office lenses?
Office lenses are tailored to your specific needs and allow for a relaxed posture when working at a desk. These lenses offer very large fields of vision from near to intermediate distances. This lets you see and work at your best in precisely the range of vision your job requires.
Can I wear contact lenses if I use a computer all day?
Working at the computer is no barrier to wearing contact lenses for most people. Your blink rate can drop if you are concentrating on a screen, which can cause issues if you are prone to dry eye. Remember to take regular breaks from the screen. There are moistening eye drops specially made for contact lens wearers which can help, and contact lenses in different material may improve comfort for some people.
