For those of us who have to stare at a computer screen for the majority of our day, we know the woes of eye strain all too well. You squint, move closer, look away and try to stretch out your eyes – it seems like it’s just a part of the job.

But just because you are glued to your desk for the majority of your day doesn’t necessarily mean that your eyes have to suffer. If you feel like you’re suffering from eye strain at the office, here are some simple and effective steps that you can take to minimize that stress.

Don’t sit too closely to your monitor

Many people often don’t even realize just how close they sit in front of their computer screen. But try and take note if you do because this is one of the ways in which your eyes can easily grow blurry from excessive strain and fatigue.

For a general rule of thumb for positioning yourself, try to keep your eyes at least 50 cm from your screen (half a metre).

Don’t wear old or incorrect prescription glasses

Some of us are guilty of not always treating our eyes with the care that they deserve. And when it comes to prescription glasses, it is imperative to ensure that you aren’t wearing old prescriptions or the wrong magnification. This can impact your vision significantly, even if it’s only done over a short period of time. So always keep your prescription glasses up-to-date.

Avoid excessive lighting

Believe it or not, too much lighting can also impact your vision. Between the glare of the monitor and too much ambient lighting, your eyes are working overtime to focus on what you’re reading and typing on that screen. So try to reduce ambient lighting that’s directly above you and the monitor. It’s best to have it no brighter than your monitor.

Take frequent breaks

It’s important to give your eyes frequent breaks from staring at that screen. So every 20 minutes, take your eyes away from your computer for at least 20 seconds. And while you’re at it, try to look and focus on an object that’s at least 20 feet away. This is known as the 20-20-20 rule.

Avoiding eye strain in the office all comes down to tweaking a few essential habits and components that are present throughout your daily routine. Try to incorporate these tips into your office routine, and always have your eyes examined by your eye doctor so they can monitor how they’re holding up to all of that pressure and hard work.

Schedule your next eye exam with Laurier Optical Innes Eye Clinic today!