We’ve talking a lot about vision in this blog. The reason is simple: more and more studies are being done about vision disorders, thus raising public awareness about the risks we all face. Our eyes are two of the most precious gifts we’ll ever get in this life. So why don’t we do more to protect these organs that routinely work harder and longer than virtually any other part of our bodies aside from our hearts?

This week let’s talk about one area where we can all take steps to protect our eyes from excessive damage, at the office. Most of us use a computer at least once during the day; many work solely in front of the computer screen. The number of people reporting eyestrain and vision problems as a result of looking at a computer screen all day has grown so large in recent years that common symptoms are now referred to Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. Yes, it sounds a little cheesy, but the effects are anything but.

Computer-related eyestrain is now the number one occupational health complaint. There is good news! We have some ideas that will help you protect your eyes during your 8-hour day at the office…

• Use correct lighting: Contrary to popular belief, most offices are simply flooded with too much light. Our eyes strain and work each time they have to transition from our dimly lit computer screens to a bright workspace. Lower the drapes, use lamps instead of bright overhead lighting that can’t be controlled, and try to match the brightness of the room to the brightness of the screen.
• Minimize the glare: This can be done in a number of ways. The easiest is to use an anti-glare screen cover for your monitor. You can also paint the wall of your office a darker color using a matte finish to prevent reflection off bright white walls. There are even coatings you can have applied to your eyeglasses that reduce glare and reflection. As always, reduce the light in your office.
• Adjust your computer screen brightness: It’s best to match the brightness and intensity of your computer screen with the light in the room. If you the white on the page looks like it is luminous or a source of light, it may be too bright.
• Blink, Blink, Blink: When we’re staring down a big report or finishing a lengthy project, our eyes actually focus more and blink less. This leads to dry eyes that are poorly lubricated. Not good! This may be a hard thing to remember, but take the time to blink, distract your vision from the screen often, and make sure you’re paying attention to your eyes if they are drying out. Drops can help, but don’t rely on them.
• Exercise and stretch your eyes: Stretch your eyes? Is this possible? Yes, in fact it is necessary to maintaining strong, healthy eyes. Take your eyes of the computer screen often and focus on something far off in the distance. If you work in a closed office or small building, open the window and find something. To get a good stretch for your focusing muscles, go from a distant object to a close object repeatedly for a minute or so stopping just long enough to completely focus on each object. Your eyes won’t start sweating, but they’ll appreciate the workout.
• Take your breaks often: Research suggests that workers who work with computers throughout their day need to take about ten minutes each hour to rest their eyes and prevent eyestrain. For those of us who use computers only part of the day still need their breaks, perhaps just a little more infrequent.
• Adjust your office or work area: Certain jobs require looking back and forth from printed pages to the computer screen. This may cause the most eyestrain over time. To ease the burden on your eyes, use a stand or a clip that holds the page right next to the screen, allowing your eyes to travel a shorter distance between the two focus points. Even adjusting the height of your chair to level your eyes with the computer screen can make a big difference.

Whatever it takes, the effort you put into resting your eyes and minimizing the risk of severe eyestrain will pay off down the road as you continue to enjoy a world of bright, beautiful colors and amazing sights. Clinical research is also making huge strides in their efforts to develop treatments for vision disorders. There are already natural supplements available that can greatly increase your chances of preventing the onset of such blinding disorders as Age-Related Macular Degeneration, AMD. Occulence^TM Vision Formula from TL Sciences is one of these new groundbreaking products that when taken regularly can help you keep your precious vision for years to come. Check it out for the good of your eyes.