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Handling Eye-Strain?
mathgenius asks: "Usually I have no problems with this, but I've noticed again, as the stress levels increase I become more susceptible to eye-strain. I've reduced the contrast on my monitor, changed Mozilla to grey background, and enlarged my text. I am considering moving my desk to the window next, so that I am more likely to relax looking at a distance. Do people here have these problems? What have you found to help with eye-strain?"
It's important to reduce the glare on your monitor. Moving your monitor near the window may actually be increasing the amount of strain that you are experiencing if the amount of glare has been increased. Ideally, you'll want to have the monitor at a 90 deg angle to the window if there is a significant amount of light coming through the window. Almost the worst is facing the window and the screen dead on (if there is too much light coming in the window). Being able to focus on something more than 15 feet away is a good thing though.
Reducing the light level in your work area is also important. Either reduce the overhead lights, turn them off, or pull the shades slightly.
Using more contrast may help. A gray background may actually increase eye strain because there is less contrast. But, your mileage may vary here. Key thing is to use a combination of colors that is easier to see. For example, yellow on gray is a terrible choice. Black on white tends to be among the best for text. Do use a subdued, simple background for your desktop.
Finally, seeing an Optometrist or Opthamologist can help since they can prescribe special computer glasses for you.
- Get up and walk around every 15-30 minutes, at least for a minute or two.
- Dim the lights in your office if possible... the reflection off a monitor gives me headaches.
- Stretch your neck and shoulders every so often. Eye strain can be associated with upper body tension.
- Get one of those screens that goes in front of the monitor to reduce glare. They also dim the monitor a bit more.
- Make sure you're sitting far enough back. I have a tendancy to sit REALLY close to the monitor. You'll get used to sitting a ways back and it will help a lot.
- Make sure you're getting enough sleep. Sounds silly, but I'm guilty of complaining about eye strain while not getting enough sleep (here I am, up at 4am)
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I strongly suggest a high contrast, bright (digital) LCD panel as your primary screen. Eye strain is often not from bright light, it's from being forced to compensate for low contrast or fuzzy text. I also recommend a second monitor that's a CRT if your first monitor is LCD, or vice versa. This means that your eyes aren't being fed the same type of light all the time.
I also recommend against desk lamps unless you're reading a lot of stuff off paper. Lighting up your whole work area when you're looking at something that's producing (rather than reflecting) light is counter-productive. In fact, glare from light bouncing off the screen can be a major source of problems.
I wear glasses because I'm short sighted. The glasses I've chosen are photochromatics ("peril sensitive", they get dark in bright light). At their clearesst setting they're about a 5% shade and they reduce a lot of glare. If you already need glasses, you may wish to try something similar. They're also great for driving at night as they reduce the glare from oncoming lights.
My optometrist recommended that I use lubricating eye drops 2-3 times a day. I have only been using them for a few weeks - it's a little uncomfortable to use - however it provides decent relief for me. (Sometimes I miss my eye and get my cheek instead - lol)
People generally blink less staring at a monitor - meaning their eyes can get dry and sore.
My eyes feel less sore/tired after 9 hours in front of a monitor, and they dont look blood-shot. I put the eye drop applicator next to my monitor - otherwise I forget to use it.
If you do use eye drops - check the applicator for a note about using within ~30 days of opening.
Also ensure that your monitor's refresh rate is high - 85Hz is good for me. You might also want to try an LCD monitor - this works for some people.