Here Are Ways to Rest Your Eyes While You Work on the Computer

The U.S. government’s Lawrence Livermore National Library, which researches work-related stress problems, has developed a series of suggestions to help your eyes and your body adapt to regular computer use:

Our eyes influence our entire body. For example, if you eyes need to look upward to view a monitor, then your neck and back will also tilt upward. This can have negative impact on the body by restricting blood flow and circulation. Here are some important tips to help you.

• Blink often. The average blink rate drops by more than 50% when looking at a monitor. Decreased blink rate can result in drying your eyes out.

• Close your eyes periodically. You can place the palms of your hands over your eyes for approximately one minute every 30 minutes to warm and relax your eye muscles.

• Avoid sources of glare including windows, overhead lighting, light colored walls and clothing.

• Choose full spectrum or soft fluorescent lighting and/or task lighting.

• Remember "20/20/20." Every 20 minutes take 20 seconds to focus on an object 20 feet away to relax the eye muscles.

• Make sure items you are viewing (computer, documents, etc...) are located at a height and distance that does not require moving your head up, down or to the sides.

• Adjust monitor refresh rate to 75 hz or above. A refresh rate slower than 75 hz can cause eye strain.

• Adjust the monitor screen resolution, Internet browser text, and font default on other applications so the text is easy to read. Recommended: 600x 800 or above screen resolution.

• If you wear progressive or multifocal lenses or contacts, consider using computer glasses.

• Have yearly eye exams.