Good eye health habits can help alleviate the effect of eye strain caused by working long hours. Developing these habits do not necessarily require a big budget or take up much of your time. In today’s post, the local eyecare specialists at Six One Six Vision Center discuss work habits that can benefit eye health.
- Balance workspace lighting. Most of today’s workspaces, particularly in office spaces, are originally designed for traditional desktop work. They do not account for the glare that comes from computer screens nor the time spent by workers staring at one. Working from home gives you more control over workspace lighting — there should be a good balance between the room’s primary lighting source and computer screen’s brightness settings. While traditional office spaces do not always offer such control, you can adjust your screen brightness in proportion to office lighting. When available, turn on the ambient light sensor on your screen to automatically adjust brightness as needed.
- Keep your prescription eyewear up to date. If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, make sure the prescription is up to date by keeping up with appointments with your eye doctor. Wearing an out-of-date prescription places unnecessary strain on the eyes as you work. Additionally, if your job requires wearing safety gear frequently, consider getting ones with prescription lenses instead of wearing standard ones over the eyes.
- Follow the “20-20-20 Rule”. The “20-20-20 Rule” means for every 20 minutes of staring at a screen, take a 20-second break and stare at an object 20 feet away. This helps relax the eyes and prevent accumulated eye strain.
- Mind the air conditioning. Cold air is a natural dehumidifier and could dry out your eyes. If you can’t change your workspace’s air conditioner settings, always have eye drops or eye mist on hand to reintroduce moisture into the eyes.
- Maintain a healthy diet. A healthy diet can help counter some of the effects of work-induced eye strain. Whether you pack your lunch or eat out, make sure that your meals include vegetables rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, such as carrots and dark leafy vegetables, as well those that contain ascorbic acid, vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids.
For more information on eye health and to schedule eye exams, call Six One Six Vision Center at (208) 514-1858. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an eye appointment.