How to stop eyes strain caused by screens | 2020 Glasses

Screen-time fatigue anyone?

While many of us are well used to spending eight hours a day looking at our screens for work, we may be less used to looking at that screen from the sofa, a makeshift desk on the breakfast bar, or from a panic-bought chair that’s far from fit for purpose.

Working from home and spending hours every day looking at screens is the new norm, so it’s never been more important to make sure that we are looking after our eyes. And we don’t just mean having an up to date prescription and wearing the correct glasses – that’s pretty obvious, no?!

Here are some top tips from our team of optical experts on taking away the (eye) strain when working from home…

Get set up for success

• Ensure your screen is positioned at least an arm’s length away from your face – about 40cm, and with a height that is a couple of inches below eye level.
• Get a quality chair that supports your back and is adjusted to the right height for your screen.
• Adjust screen brightness to match your surroundings – not too bright and not too low.
• Try to work from a room with a window and natural light, positioning your screen so that sun rays don’t reflect onto it. If you can’t, or need extra light, a desk lamp is a more gentle, softer light than a “big” light in the room.
• Play with font sizes to make sure you aren’t straining to see what’s on your screen.

Step away from the screen

• Take a break at least every two hours, and try for even less than that length of time if you can.
• Have a good 10 to 20 minutes away from the screen during these breaks – more at lunchtime. And stretch your legs too – it’s good for mind and body!

Eyes dry and red? Put that to bed!

• Studies have found we blink less when we are looking at a screen, which can cause eyes to become dry and irritated. Try concentrating on blinking 10-15 times per minute.
• If you can get access to a dehumidifier for your home office, it can really help, but open the windows from time to time, too, it will help the fresh air to circulate.
• Make sure that you are drinking enough water – it’s the golden rule of hydration – full stop!
• You can also use some gentle eye drops for adding moisture, speak to your pharmacist if you think this might help.
• Try giving your eyes a massage. Softly make circles over your closed eyelids and apply light pressure to your eyebrows and eye bags – it will give you a lovely sense of relief …and a bit of self-care never harmed anyone!

If eye pain does continue, it’s important that you seek out professional help and book an eye test.

We hope you find these tips helpful and if you have any of your own tips and tricks you would like to share, or you want to show off your home office, do share with us on social media.