How to protect your Eyes when using a Computer

More or less, we all have an idea that sitting in front of a monitor does actually have an effect on our vision (amongst other things) ; and the truth is, that either due to the type of work we do, or because we use a computer for entertainment, most of us nowadays do spend a fair share of time in front of a computer monitor. Therefore it is wise to starting caring of our eyes, with regards to proper use and correct settings (both active and ambient) of that monitor.

The issue is digital eye strain, which is caused by the overuse of digital devices. Because computer tablets, smartphones and other hand-held products are designed for reading and close range use, eyes must constantly refocus and reposition to process content like graphics and text. Over time, such efforts can lead to fatigue, irritation and vision problems. You can learn more about digital eye strain including causes, symptoms, and prevention methods by reading the report “Screens, Phones, Tablets and More: Keeping Your Eyes Safe in a Digital Age” now available by The Vision Council, a non-profit organisation. You can download the report here.

Viewing a computer screen forces your eyes to work harder. The ciliary muscles of the eyes work the most when a digital device is in use. These get exhausted if you are immersed in close range reading. Some headers [1] :

Take a break & Blink more

Blinking the eyelids is critical in keeping your eyes moist and maintaining optimum vision. Follow the 20-20-20 rule (take a 20 second break every 20 minutes, and look at something 20 feet away). In an airconditioned office environment, eyes can dry up faster. Blinking helps your eyes moisturize as well as it forces them to refocus.

Give a high five

Another interesting tip is to make sure your computer screen is far enough from your eyes, using the 'high five test' : If you can't give your display a proper high five, you are sitting too close. It should be right in the line of or just below eye level, so that the viewing angle doesn't exceed 35 degrees.

Don't be a night owl

What time of day you choose to work on digital devices can make a difference too. Working on your laptop into the night makes your pupils dilate so as to let more light enter them. But to enable any 'near work' like reading, our pupils are programmed to shrink, so as to facilitate smoother reading. Make sure you have a night lamp that matches the monitor's brightness , and use computer eyewear.

Hold it

Smart phones, are best held just below eye level and at a distance of 12 inches from the eyes. Enlarge font size and browser settings for viewing comfort. Most cell phones and tablets now possess LED screens, which emit bright, blue light which are far from kind to the eyes. When blue light strikes the eye lens, it refracts and makes other objects in surrounding view go in and out of focus. To offset this, we often end up squinting, leading to eye fatigue. This is why when you finish and look away, visuals don't register easily, and things appear blurred.

There is a long article in eHow, offering quick and easy advice as well as specific setup instructions for your monitor, if you wish to read more.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2003207_protect-eyes-using-computer.html#ixzz2KHxv6rUp

[1] Ref. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-30/health/34764507_1_dry-eyes-eye-fatigue-computer-vision-syndrome