How-To: Relieve Vision Pressure at the Office
Susan Mithoff Quade
| 2 min read
Work is becoming an increased source of stress for most Detroit residents, with more than 35 percent of people in the Motor City saying their stress has increased since last year. On top of that, work and stress can negatively impact your health.
If you spend your workday staring at a computer for hours, day in and day out, you are putting your eyes at risk for injury and strain. Over time, this pressure can cause long-term damage to your eyes, resulting in a variety of health issues, including frequent migraines.
According to the American Optometric Association, most workers feel eye pressure after a long day at work as a result of prolonged computer use or concentration. Instead of enduring the pain, protect your eyes and your health with these simple tips:
- Decrease the number of lightbulbs or fluorescent lights in your office and rely on natural light as much as you can.
- The AOA recommends the 20/20/20 rule: For every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This allows you to relax your eyes, increase blinking and produce tears – all of which will help with eye pressure.
- Move your computer monitor 20 to 26 inches away from your eyes to minimize the strain. You can also increase the zoom so the type on the screen is large enough to see without squinting.
- Add an anti-glare screen to your computer monitor.
- If possible, replace an old computer monitor with a digital thin screen. The old-school rounded monitors force your eyes to do more work than necessary to concentrate on the screen.
- Visit an eye doctor and ask about anti-reflective lenses or special bifocal lenses.
Learn more about improving the health of your employees, and lowering your business’ health care costs, by offering Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s specialty insurance coverage at BCBSM.com.
Photo credit: Amburn.Everett
