Promoting Eye Wellness in the Workplace

In an era where technology is an integral part of our daily work, maintaining good eye health has become a significant concern for most employees. More than ever, it’s essential to raise awareness about Workplace Eye Wellness Month, which was declared by Prevent Blindness as every April and encompasses all work environments. In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into strategies for promoting wellness in a work environment that requires multiple hours of computer or near work.

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Understanding Eye Health at Work

As we navigate the digital age, we often overlook the tremendous stress our eyes undergo each day. Prolonged screen time can lead to what is medically termed as ‘Computer Vision Syndrome‘ or CVS causing symptoms such as dry eyes, blurred vision and headaches. High Energy Visible (HEV) light emitted by digital screens can also disrupt sleep patterns. Acknowledging such occupational eye hazards, it becomes crucial to invest time and resources into promoting eye health at work.

Eye Safety Tips

Here are a few practical eye safety tips to protect your eyes and minimize the risk of eye strain:

  • Regular Breaks: Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away. This helps reduce eye strain.
  • Adjust Screen Settings: Optimize the brightness, contrast, and font size on your screen for comfortable viewing.
  • Choose Anti-Reflective Coatings and Blue Light Filters: Consider choosing these lens options for minimizing scattered light and high energy visible light which can lead to eye strain and disruptions in your sleep cycle.
  • Regular Eye Exams: Regular comprehensive eye exams can help detect vision problems at an early stage. Your eye care provider can also prescribe the optimal glasses prescription for your specific tasks and viewing distances.

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Creating an Eye-Friendly Workspace

Designing an eye-friendly workspace is crucial in minimizing eye strain and promoting eye health. Here are some steps to achieve this:

Lighting and Positioning

Ensure your workspace has suitable lighting. Excessively bright lights can cause glare and strain your eyes. Position your computer screen to avoid glare from windows and overhead lights. Adjust your screen settings to match the brightness of your surroundings.

Ergonomic Furniture

Using ergonomic furniture can greatly improve your posture and reduce eye strain. Ensure the top of your screen is at eye level and at a comfortable distance. Use a chair that supports your back and keeps your feet flat on the floor.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Emphasizing workplace eye wellness, following safety guidelines, and making small adjustments in your workspace can go a long way in maintaining your eye health. Stay aware, stay safe!

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Photograph of Catherine Ong

Catherine Ong

Dr. Catherine Ong, OD, is an optometrist based in the Bay Area, California. She earned her doctorate from UC Berkeley, School of Optometry and currently provides primary and speciality eyecare in a private practice setting. She has a passion for patient education and enjoys reshaping technical concepts into digestable topics for all patients. When she is not seeing patients, you can find her exploring new restaurants, exercising, or trying out new recipes.