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Why are eyes strained more reading from a computer screen than reading from the printed page? Click here to find out.

Issue    ~  Prevention   ~  Equipment   ~  Treatment   ~  Links

Prevention

• Rest
  - rest your eyes for at least 20 seconds every 30 minutes at a minimum.
  Tip: Change the distance of your focusing during rest periods. Look out the window at a far object if possible, or focus on something across the room.

• Monitor Height
  - adjust the height of the screen so that the top of the screen is no higher than eye level and the viewing angle for the computer screen is no more than 10 to 15 degrees below horizontal
  Tip: Tilted the monitor up or down to help in setting the proper height.

• Monitor Distance
  - the recommended distance between the eyes and the screen is between 46 and 76 centimetres (18 and 30 inches)
  Tip: If you have vision problems, you may have to move the screen closer or further away.

• Use Dominant Eye
  - when copying from documents, place source documents on the side of the dominant eye
  Tip: To determine eye dominance, do the following while sitting in front of your computer screen:
  • Holding your arms straight out in front of you, make a circle with both your hands. Position your hands so that you can see through both circles with one hand in front of the other. Focus on a distant object with both eyes open. Wear glasses if you normally use them to work at your computer.
  • Continuing to hold your hands in position, close one eye and then the other. The eye allowing you to see the distant object is your dominant eye.

• Cover Monitor
  - cover the monitor with a plastic cover when not in use
  Tip: Light on your computer screen reduces its clarity over time.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses:

• Appropriate Prescription
  - make sure that your eyeglass prescription is appropriate for the distance to view the monitor
  Tip: Most eye doctors can evaluate you for a pair of computer glasses designed to see at 46 and 76 centimetres (18 to 30 inches).

• Bifocals
  - if you wear bifocals you may have to place the screen slightly lower and shorten the distance to the screen
  Tip: Bifocals are generally designed to be read through downward at a 25 degree angle.

• Contact Lenses
  - if you wear contact lenses blink often and use artificial tears to reduce eye irritation
  Tip: Contact lenses make you blink less than people who have normal vision or wear glasses.

Minimizing glare:

• Overhead Lighting
  - reduce overhead lighting and close blinds over windows
  Tip: When overhead lighting is reduced to address glare problems, task lighting may become necessary.

• Clean Monitor
  - clean screen to minimize glare and increase character sharpness
  Tip: To clean a VDT screen wipe it very lightly every day with a damp, not wet, paper towel.

• Monitor Placement
  - test for excessive glare when tilting the monitor
  Tip: If you can see your own image in the screen before it is turned on, reflections and indirect glare from the screen will strain your eyes.

Issue    ~  Prevention   ~  Equipment   ~  Treatment   ~  Links

Equipment

Good screen resolution is important, especially for extended work. Screens with more pixels generally provide better resolution. Monochrome monitors usually have better resolution than color monitors; if the job doesn’t require color, it’s often best to use a monochrome monitor. For color monitors, small dot pitches (less than 0.28 mm) are desirable.

Some people experience a flickering sensation when viewing the screen. If this is bothersome, try turning down the brightness, or use a dark background instead of a light one. If all else fails, using a display with a higher refresh rate might solve the problem. Although 60 Hz is the most common refresh rate, higher refresh rates are preferred.

Anti-Glare Screens: Glass screens perform better than mesh screens. Look for screens that have been approved by the American Optometric Association. 

A hood can be purchased and placed over the display to shield it from offending light sources that cause glare; however, hoods often don’t perform as well as antireflection screens.

Issue   ~  Prevention   ~  Equipment   ~  Treatment   ~  Links

Treatment

There is a vision tester that exactly simulates the light output of a computer screen for the eye exam. This device is called the PRIO Vision Tester. Many eye doctors have it in their offices. They use it to create a pair of glasses that are used for computer use only - PRIO glasses - that eliminate the major effects of computer eyestrain. PRIO lenses are also tinted according to the doctor's prescription to help with the effects of different lighting conditions, especially those generated by fluorescent lights.

Issue   ~  Prevention   ~  Equipment   ~  Treatment   ~  Links

Links

Typing Injuries - FAQ
http://www.tifaq.org/articles/visual_comfort-jan99-jeffrey_anshel.html
Article outlining how you can improve visual comfort at a computer workstation.

Issue    ~  Prevention   ~  Equipment   ~  Treatment   ~  Links

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