The influx of technology in our lives has been very swift in recent years & will only continue to grow. According to Statista, there are 3.9 billion smartphone users in the world. Although digital devices have become indispensable by way of offering convenience & ease, any excessive use is always detrimental to anyone’s sight. This calls for adequate measures to ensure that your eyes are healthy & protected with the help of either wearing glasses or taking measures that maintain a healthy vision. In the same vein, this article discusses how one can mitigate eye strain without compromising on productivity at work.
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Hazards of Digital Eye Strain
Staring at mobile screens for a prolonged period of time can affect your sight. According to the Vision Council of America, more than 30 percent of people have complained about suffering from optical irritation as a result of using gadgets on the regular. Also known as CVS or Computer Vision Syndrome, it can cause a variety of symptoms such as dryness, migraines, irritation, redness & photophobia in severe cases. To avoid these symptoms, you need to know first what causes them.
Common Causes
Everyone knows that using gadgets & other devices in an irresponsible manner can adversely affect vision. This is why one needs to take responsibility for their own health to avoid any unwanted optical illness or condition. A few good habits can go a long way. First, staring at screens within close proximity can lead to dryness & irritation. You should avoid any activity that binds you for more than two hours in front of a screen.
Second, it always helps to maintain a correct posture. Sitting for long hours at work desk can really induce chronic back pain which’s really hard to get rid of. It’s recommended that you keep an upright position & keeping your shoulders back. You should always maintain the back’s normal curvature.
Third, there are instances when the blue light released by devices can become too much for your eyes to bear. An extended amount of exposure to blue light can lead to illnesses such as macular degeneration. Blue light also prevents melatonin i.e. the sleep hormone from producing in your body thus preventing you from a sound sleep. This is why it’s often recommended to avoid using smartphones before going to bed. For the sake of optical health, getting a pair of prescription glasses with a blue light filter coating is a good idea to start with.
Fourth, if you’re someone who needs vision correction, wearing glasses is simply unavoidable. Failing to do so can aggravate the prescription needed for refractive error in eyesight. Common conditions include near or farsightedness, astigmatism & cataracts.
Fifth, folks who wear contact lenses are at a disadvantage here. Contact lenses require the fluid contained at the frontal part of the iris to stay in place. As a consequence, contacts have to be changed frequently or lubricated again to prevent irritation. Feel free to take periodic breaks to avoid overworking your eyes. Moreover, you can try wearing eyeglasses instead as they are a better option when it comes to optical health. If you are interested more about this topic, you can visit eyewebsafety.com
Sixth, people who suffer from any disease or condition should always consult an ophthalmologist to keep any further damage at bay. Conditions that cause a reduced amount of liquid to produce that can lead to fatigued eyes.
Preventing Digital Eye Strain
Here are some tips & actions that will help a lot at your work for keeping a healthy vision throughout the day. For instance, breaks are a good way to both de-stress & avoid constant exposure of your eyes to screens. It’s recommended to follow the rule of discontinuing your work for 20 seconds & focus on an object at some distance. However, this is not the only way to take a break from work. It helps to find out what works for you in terms of relaxing throughout the work hours.
Another great way to reduce vision fatigue is to take simply blink more frequently. Blinking is a great way to keep the crystalline lens lubricated, thus preventing any instances of irritation or dryness. This becomes even more important for folks who wear contacts.
You can tweak the settings pertaining to your smartphone’s brightness. Moreover, maintaining a distance of at least 20 inches from the screen of a smartphone is key here. Most mobile phones also allow the night mode option as well that reduces the amount of blue light being emitted from gadgets. Needless to say, this feature is often overlooked by most people.
When it’s bedtime, one should put away their phone & refrain from any usage at least one hour before sleeping. Doing so will release the amount of melatonin in your body for a night of peaceful sleep. Think that posting on social media is more crucial than getting a good night’s sleep? Think again.
Overall, if following the aforementioned actions will help one feel a lot less stressed out & maintain a steady focus throughout the hours at their workplace. As simple as they might seem, these tips can go a long way to maintain a healthy vision that enables one to be as productive as possible.
Conclusion
On the whole, if you’re suffering from CVS or digital eye strain, it helps to take a few precautionary measures for the sake of sight. Moreover, you should consult an ophthalmologist if you’re suffering from some condition that’s aggravating CVS. If you’re someone who needs to update or get a fresh pair of prescription, ensure adding a blue light filter coating in lenses. This is because maintaining a healthy vision is imperative to perform at your level best at work. Realize the fact that technology is there to facilitate us. The important thing is not to overuse it to a point that is detrimental to your eyesight. One should always leverage it to the point that it enables us to do more while maintaining healthy eyesight.
