Bell Ophthalmic is pleased to introduce a new series of educational materials for your patients. Each month, we’ll offer tips on eye care. Click here to get a pdf of this month’s tips. Print and hand to your patients. It’s that easy.
Although we are accustomed to neck and back strain due to slit lamp usage, perhaps we overlook the effects of our computers, smartphones and other hand held devices.
Many people who spend hours reading small type or working on their computers or tablets experience eye discomfort. Eyestrain, fatigue, headaches or dry, red, gritty eyes are common complaints.
Computer users, in particular, suffer from dry eye because blinking is reduced by about one-third when at the screen.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers these ergonomic tips for workplace comfort:
Stay at Arm’s Length
Place your desktop computer screen about 25 inches away from your face, about an arm’s length. To ease the strain caused by small type, increase the font size on your screen or zoom in. It’s easy to change the font size before you print or send your document. No one will ever know.
Consider Glare
Sunlight, room light, or illuminated screens create glare. Move your computer screen to eliminate glare. Close blinds if necessary. Adjust the illumination control or contrast on your device to be more comfortable.
Give Your Eyes a break
Eye strain happens after long, continuous periods of reading paper or viewing screens up close. Relax your eyes with the 20-20-20 test. Take a break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Fight Dry Eye
If your office has a humidity controlled HVAC system that sucks moisture out of the air or pumps in drying high heat, consider a desktop humidifier to keep your personal space more comfortable. Failing that, keep artificial tears handy.
Download Eyestrain Handout for Patients
Feel free to use the downloadable content. Copy for your patients. Use it as a blog post on your own website. Add your logo. Let us know if it’s useful!