

I’ve written an article in our internal wiki with step-by-step instructions on how to solve the problem. The problem was solved months ago, and it has an easy solution.

I talk to the executive assistant in order to help her solve a problem. Inspired by the examples provided in Marc Scott’s wonderful article about why kids can’t use computers, I’d like to share my own experiences with people of all kinds who can’t use computers. I don’t mean to sound alarmist, or want you to put on a tin foil hat. Encourage them to take frequent breaks from the screen to give their eyes a rest.Even the “experts” are faking it sometimes. Make sure any computers they use are set up at the right height and in the best light. They might prescribe a single or bifocal lens, or tinted lens material to boost contrast and filter out glare. They’ll decide if you can wear your regular glasses for computer work or if you need a special pair. Let them know about any problems you have. Visit your eye doctor regularly for exams and to keep your prescriptions up to date. Adjust the brightness, contrast, and font size until you find what’s best for you. Tweak your settings. You don't have to live with the factory-installed presets if you're uncomfortable. Look away from the screen every 20 minutes or so and look at something around 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. That way, you won't have to look up at the screen and back down at the desk while you type. Put a stand next to your monitor and place any printed materials you're working from on it. You shouldn't have to stretch your neck or strain your eyes to see what's on the screen. Rearrange your desk. The best position for your monitor is slightly below eye level, about 20 to 28 inches away from your face. You can also add a glare filter to your monitor.
#PEOPLE WHO USE COMPUTERS AT WORK INSTALL#
Ask your employer to install a dimmer switch for the overhead fixtures if they're too bright, or buy a desk lamp with a moveable shade that casts light evenly over your desk. If light from a nearby window casts a glare, move your monitor and close the shades. How Is It Treated?Ī few simple changes to your workspace can improve your symptoms and prevent new problems:Ĭut the glare. Change the lighting around you to reduce the effect on your computer screen. You could also have issues with your work performance. If you don’t do anything about them, it could affect more than your eyes. But regular use can lead to eye strain and discomfort. There's no proof that computer use causes any long-term damage to the eyes. Your eye doctor will call this condition presbyopia. Somewhere around age 40, your ability to focus on near and far objects will start to go away. You’re more likely to have problems if you already have eye trouble, if you need glasses but don't have them, or if you wear the wrong prescription for computer use.Ĭomputer work gets harder as you age and the natural lenses in your eyes becomes less flexible. What's more, it is proven that we blink far less frequently when using a computer, which causes the eyes to dry out and blur your vision periodically while working. And to make things worse, unlike a book or piece of paper, the screen adds contrast, flicker, and glare. All these jobs require a lot of effort from your eye muscles. Your eyes react to images constantly moving and changing, shifting focus, sending rapidly varying images to the brain. You may have to look down at papers and then back up to type. When you work at a computer, your eyes have to focus and refocus all the time. And it can get worse the longer you continue the movement. It happens because your eyes follow the same path over and over. How Do Computers Affect Vision?ĬVS is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries you might get at work. Kids who stare at tablets or use computers during the day at school can have issues, too, especially if the lighting and their posture are less than ideal. Working adults aren't the only ones affected. Research shows that between 50% and 90% of people who work at a computer screen have at least some symptoms. Instead, it includes a whole range of eye strain and discomfort. That can put a real strain on your eyes.Įye problems caused by computer use fall under the heading computer vision syndrome (CVS). These days, many of us have jobs that require us to stare at computer screens for hours at a time.
