When using a computer for prolonged periods of time, whether for work or pleasure, it's important to protect your eyes from long-term damage. The following sections provide ways you can protect your eyes and reduce eyestrain. Show Tip Reducing strain on your eyes can also help reduce the frequency of headaches.
Clean and adjustListed below are some ways you can protect your eyes when using a computer. These options are quick to do and provide a lot of benefits.
Tip See our posture page for further suggestions on the ergonomics of sitting at your computer desk. Use an LCD or LED monitorWe recommend using an LCD or LED flat-panel monitor for your computer. The older CRT monitors are harder on the eyes due to the lower refresh rates and general design of the monitor. LCD and LED monitors feature higher refresh rates, high enough that most people cannot see the refreshing of the screen. LCD and LED monitors in general are easier to view for longer periods of time and cause less strain on the eyes. Today, LCD and LED monitors are very affordable. You can get a 24-inch monitor for as low as $100, and a 27-inch for as low as $150. Curved LED monitors can reduce eye strain by providing a better viewing range, but at a much higher price point. Computer accessoriesSome companies, like 3M, offer accessories for computers that help protect your eyes and increase your productivity at home or at work. Below are two of the popular computer accessories you can try.
Take a breakOne of the most important things you can do to protect your eyes is to take regular breaks. Taking several minutes to get up and not look at the computer screen can greatly help in reducing any strain and tiredness of your eyes. A common recommendation from doctors and specialists is to take a five-minute break every hour of computer use. For that five minutes, you can get up and walk around, get something to drink, or do exercises to help increase blood flow in your body and your brain. These actions allow your eyes to rest for a few minutes. Tip Drinking lots of water while working on a computer can force you to take these breaks because you'll be taking more frequent bathroom breaks. You can also try the 20-20-20 rule. After 20 minutes of computer use, for 20 seconds, look at an object that is about 20 feet away. Reduce or eliminate blue lightIncreased or long-term exposure to blue light causes eye strain and makes it more difficult to get to sleep at night. By reducing or eliminating the output of blue light on your computer screen, you can reduce strain on your eyes. There are several ways to reduce or eliminate blue light output.
Be aware of eye conditionsFinally, it's important to also realize that there are health-related conditions like CVS (computer vision syndrome) due to prolonged computer use. If you continue to have eye issues after following all of the steps on this page, we recommend seeing an eye doctor. How do I protect my eyes while looking at a computer screen?If the computer screen is brighter than the surrounding light, the eyes have to work harder to see. Adjusting the screen's brightness to match the level of light around it can help reduce eyestrain. Increasing the contrast on the screen may also help. If the screen has a lot of glare, try using a matte screen filter.
How do I protect my eyes from too much screen time?6 Easy Ways To Limit the Effects From Too Much Screen Time. Background.. Avoid dry eyes. As stated above, the primary reason staring at a computer screen is so harmful to your eyes is that you tend to blink less. ... . Allow distance. ... . Adjust the brightness. ... . Reduce glare. ... . Follow the 20-20-20 Rule. ... . Limit devices before bed.. Can computer screens damage your eyes?According to experts, staring at computers, tablets, and smartphone screens will not permanently damage your eyesight. However, doing so can cause some bothersome side effects, most notably computer vision syndrome (also called digital eye strain).
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