4 Tips to Relieve Computer Eye Strain

Computer Eye Strain
April 19, 2019
James Ashford

Blurred vision and dry eyes? Got headaches and neck pain, too?

If you’re at a computer all day, you may be one of the millions of people who have computer vision syndrome that causes computer eye strain.

Before you start panicking, it’s just a fancy term for computer eye strain. When you work on a computer day in and day out, it can feel like you never quite have a chance to get a handle on it.

Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce computer eye strain and feel more comfortable while working on your computer.

Let’s take a look at four simple things you can do right away to relieve the strain.

1. Use proper lighting

Did you know eye strain can be caused by excessively bright light?

Whether it’s harsh interior lighting, or bright sunlight coming in from a window, when you’re using a computer, you should dim the ambient light around you.

That means closing the blinds or drapes and lowering the intensity of your interior lighting.

Can’t avoid the fluorescent tubes in the office? Ask if you can have a few of them removed or turned off, or if they can be replaced with lower intensity light bulbs or tubes.

Using floor lamps is another way to create gentler ambient lighting.

2. Minimize glare

Glare can be a significant contributor to eye strain and can come from walls, finished surfaces, and reflections on your computer screen.

Simple solutions include installing an anti-glare screen on your monitor, painting bright walls a darker color (with a matte finish), covering windows, and making sure the lenses of your glasses have an anti-reflective coating.

Talk to your optometrist if your lenses don’t have a coating.

3. Adjust your display

Adjusting the settings on your display can make a world of difference! Try changing these three for a big improvement:

Brightness

Adjust the brightness to match the brightness of the room around you (if the lights are dim, and your screen is too bright, you’ll get eye strain — and vice versa).

Text size and contrast

If at all possible, increase the text size of your operating system. The ideal size is around three times the smallest text size you can read when seated at your workstation.

Also, keep in mind that low-contrast color schemes are the hardest to read (example: yellow text on a white background). If possible, choose black text on a white background.

Color temperature

You may already know the blue light emitted from screens and devices is associated with eye strain. Since blue light is a short wavelength, choosing longer wavelength hues, like orange and red, will help reduce eye strain.

If you have an old CRT monitor, it may be time to upgrade to an LCD display instead. LCD screens are easier on the eyes and have an anti-reflective surface.

4. Take more breaks!

Take more frequent breaks throughout your workday. Brief 5-min breaks away from your screen will help reduce eye strain and the neck, back and shoulder pain associated with computer work.

Stand up, stretch, and look away from your computer, preferably at something more relaxing (i.e., not your smartphone!). If you can, get outside.

Doing simple eye exercises throughout your work day will also help. Eye doctors suggest following the 20-20-20 rule.

To give your eyes a break, every 20 minutes, look away from your screen at a distant object (at least 20 feet away), for at least 20 seconds. Looking far away helps relax the muscles in the eye that are working so hard to focus.

You don’t have to succumb to computer vision syndrome. By following these four tips every day, you’ll be well on your way to feeling much better!

Need to book an appointment to upgrade your lenses?

Image Source

[formlift id=”653″]

Not sure where to get started with recommending self-funded plans? Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma is pre-paid plan provider with and extensive of specialists who deliver eye care in Tulsa and nationwide with excellent value for employers and plan recipients.

Find out more about our self-funded plans and other flexible options.

GET LASIK DISCOUNT

Learn about benefits of LASIK for Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma members.

Let's Talk About You

Let us know if you have any questions or if you’d like to chat.

Popular blog posts

VCD Teacher Scholarship Success Story

VCD Teacher Scholarship Success Story

Students spend as many as seven hours a day in a classroom. This environment is crucial to learning and student well-being. Teachers are using creative solutions to transform their classrooms into welcoming environments that are conducive to academic success, but...

Patient Relationship Management in Optometry

Patient Relationship Management in Optometry

Building strong patient relationships results in better experiences and outcomes for eye health patients. As an optometrist, you can grow your optometry practice by taking a proactive approach to patient relationship management and implementing proven strategies to...

Teacher Resource Guide to Vision Health for Students

Teacher Resource Guide to Vision Health for Students

6 MIN. READ We often associate decreasing vision with aging, but eye health issues are common in school-age children. As an educator, you can make a difference by familiarizing yourself with common symptoms caused by vision problems. You can also connect families to...

Tips for Including Eye Breaks and Visual Exercises in the Classroom

Tips for Including Eye Breaks and Visual Exercises in the Classroom

4 MIN. READ Healthy vision among students is a top priority for teachers and a lofty, commendable goal. This blog explores the ease and benefits of incorporating eye breaks and visual exercises into your classroom routine. Implementing these techniques helps Oklahoma...

Preventing, Treating, and Managing Childhood Myopia

Preventing, Treating, and Managing Childhood Myopia

Childhood myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common eye health condition that makes far-away objects appear blurry to children. Experts believe it affects as many as 20% of students. While symptoms can vary, myopia often causes issues for school-age children with...

5 Ways to Enhance Your Optometric Practice in 2023

5 Ways to Enhance Your Optometric Practice in 2023

Practice growth is a priority for many Oklahoma vision care providers. Although the average provider's income in Oklahoma is close to $57/hour, the regional income lags behind other parts of the country. Staying ahead of the curve and continuously improving your...

Vision Plans Are a Valuable Employee Benefit Solution

Vision Plans Are a Valuable Employee Benefit Solution

As an employer, you may wonder, “Are vision plans worth it?” Yes, vision plans are valuable employee-benefit solutions that can benefit both your business and your employees. We will explain the different types of vision plans, how they can impact your employees, and...

Smart Contact Lenses Are Coming Soon – Here’s How to Get Them

Smart Contact Lenses Are Coming Soon – Here’s How to Get Them

Smart contact lenses are still in the early stages of development, but they hold enormous potential for the future. They can monitor and manage chronic health conditions, provide real-time feedback during athletic training, or even enhance our daily lives with...

Your Employees Will Love You for Offering Vision Screening

Your Employees Will Love You for Offering Vision Screening

An eye exam is a crucial aspect of maintaining good eye health. It involves a series of tests that assess a person's visual acuity, depth perception, color vision, and eye alignment. The benefits of vision exams are numerous, including early detection of eye diseases,...

How Employers Can Help in the Fight Against Vision Loss

How Employers Can Help in the Fight Against Vision Loss

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the economic cost of major vision problems is projected to increase to $373 billion by 2050. Vision-related issues are estimated to impact 20 million Americans. This means that the likelihood that your...

Customer Care and Personalized Vision Plan Access

Customer Care and Personalized Vision Plan Access

For individuals and families in Oklahoma and nationwide, eye care health is a significant concern. Brokers play an essential role by helping customers navigate their insurance options and advocating for their best care. Customer care and personalized vision plan...

Why You Should Care About the Optometrist/Eye Doctor Face-Off

Why You Should Care About the Optometrist/Eye Doctor Face-Off

In 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a measure giving optometrists in the Golden State the legal authority to perform laser eye surgery and some other advanced procedures. It was a victory for ophthalmologists in the ongoing eye doctor or optometrist debate....

Are Blue Light Protection Glasses Worth it?

Are Blue Light Protection Glasses Worth it?

With the advancement of digital devices and the amount of time we now spend in front of them, many people are dealing with eyestrain and fatigue. As a result, blue light protection glasses have become increasingly popular as a way to diminish this stress, and they...

Effective Eye Care for Older Adults Includes These Five Things

Effective Eye Care for Older Adults Includes These Five Things

Since 1900, the percentage of Americans over 65 has almost quadrupled. Yet, only a handful of these individuals live in institutional settings. Therefore, access to quality healthcare, especially eye care, is an issue. That’s especially true since these providers must...

How important are vision care benefits to employees?

How important are vision care benefits to employees?

Eye health is essential to our overall wellness, and employee vision plans are an increasingly popular option for employers. However, do employees understand the unique benefits of these plans and why they’re so vital to our health? Employers should understand what...

What Is Genetic Ophthalmology and What Does It Mean for Eye Health?

What Is Genetic Ophthalmology and What Does It Mean for Eye Health?

Genetic ophthalmology (GO) is an emerging field that could provide more effective treatment for genetic eye diseases such as glaucoma. However, GO also raises some serious concerns that should be addressed as this technology progresses. What is Genetic Ophthalmology?...

Top 5 KPIs to Track When Assessing Plan Performance and Satisfaction

Top 5 KPIs to Track When Assessing Plan Performance and Satisfaction

As a broker, you need to maintain a diverse product portfolio so you can help companies build packages adapted to their needs and budgets. Tracking these 5 key performance indicators when comparing plans will help you better identify the ones that are more likely to...

How to Get Discounts on Frames and Discontinued Lines

How to Get Discounts on Frames and Discontinued Lines

Eyewear and contact lenses are vital to the optometry field. Keeping this in mind, doctors should be aware of the purchase costs of these goods to boost their revenue. Frame reps make commissions on sales, so they’re incentivized to sell as much as possible, but are...

Designing a Modern Optometry Practice

Designing a Modern Optometry Practice

One question that optometrists should consider is, “When patients walk into your optometry office, how do you want them to feel?” Naturally, patients desire comfortable, welcoming, and modern environments, as these characteristics put them at ease. Therefore,...

November 2022: Native American Heritage Month

November 2022: Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month celebrates a rich culture and educates people about issues unique to the Native American community. It’s an opportunity to draw attention to health issues that disproportionately affect Native Americans. It’s a group that is at higher...

Top 3 Reasons to Work with Smaller Plan Providers

Top 3 Reasons to Work with Smaller Plan Providers

In the healthcare benefits industry, brokers are essential in helping small businesses find plans. Smaller companies might not have the resources or experience to do thorough research into the options available. Fortunately, there are brokers who understand that...

3 Signs It’s Time to Review and Upgrade Your Benefits Package

3 Signs It’s Time to Review and Upgrade Your Benefits Package

A routine inventory of your benefits package can tell you where you may be able to reduce spending and, equally importantly, can also ensure that it continues to meet the needs of employees. That’s why Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma recommends reviewing your benefits...

October 2022: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 2022: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You might be wondering about the link with vision health. The truth is that a simple eye exam can sometimes detect early signs of cancer. Breast cancer can result in metastasis. When cancer cells break away from the main tumor, they...

Understanding the Ins and Outs of the Vision Plans You Accept

Understanding the Ins and Outs of the Vision Plans You Accept

For eye doctors in Tulsa OK, as well as other states, a regular review of the plans you’re currently accepting, and their ins and outs, is something you should be doing. By understanding the vision plans you accept, you can better identify how you are paid and the...

Top Strategies for Helping Plan Providers Meet Their Goals

Top Strategies for Helping Plan Providers Meet Their Goals

When trying to reduce healthcare spending, employers who offer employee benefits in the state of Oklahoma, as well as anywhere else, should be aware of one fact: there are options available that don’t increase the costs to employees via high deductibles. As a broker,...

Rethinking How You Offer Value Part 3: Build Digital Connections

Rethinking How You Offer Value Part 3: Build Digital Connections

The pandemic has sped up the digital transformation. Many professionals are embracing the virtual world because they realize connections matter. We've been sharing tips about how to rethink the way you offer value as a broker who offers plans accepted by an...

eGuide: Top 10 Ways Vision Care Direct Makes a Broker’s Job Easier

eGuide: Top 10 Ways Vision Care Direct Makes a Broker’s Job Easier

Top 10 Ways eGuide - Vision Care Direct Makes a Broker’s Job EasierOur eGuide is chocked full of ways Vision Care Direct can simplify working with a vision plan.  When you quote a vision plan certainly you are looking at the price and size of the network, and so is...

Search blog posts