Staring at a monitor all day can have some lasting effects on your eyes. Over-exerting your eyes for an extended period of time can result in pain and tension, frequent headaches, sensitivity to light, as well as double and blurred vision. And while eyestrain doesn’t often lead to permanent damage, it can impact your productivity. Fortunately, there are some preventative measures that you can take to avoid eyestrain that we’ll discuss in more detail below. If your eyes have been irritating you while at work, try these 5 ways to organize your work desk to protect your eye

Position the Monitor Correctly

The best position for your monitor is just slightly below eye level. At this height, your eyes don’t have to open as much to read the screen. This helps keep them naturally lubricated which can help to prevent dry eyes and redness from occurring. Also, if you find that you have to move closer to your monitor to read the regular sized text, then your computer screen is likely too far back. Move it forward so that you don’t need to squint or move your head closer to the screen. It’s recommended that you keep your monitor between 20 and 40 inches in front of you. If that doesn’t help, adjust your resolution to the highest setting or talk to your doctor about getting eyeglasses.

Move the Mouse and Keyboard Closer

If you’re leaning in too far, you can actually tire out your eye muscles really quickly, which can make it hard to focus. Having the mouse and keyboard closer will prevent you from needing to lean in closer to the screen.

Position Your Desk to Reduce Glare

Does the screen brightness irritate your eyes? If so, check your computer’s settings to ensure that your desktop and colour scheme are balanced and have enough contrast. If that doesn’t help, then it’s time to adjust the lighting in the room. If you’re experiencing glare, check to see where the light is coming from. If the light comes directly behind you, it will create a glare on your screen which can make it difficult to read. Try to move your monitor or desk to a position where the light shines onto your computer at a softer angle. Where there are overhead lights, move your desk so that you’re not sitting directly under the fluorescent lights. And if you’re facing a window, consider repositioning your desk, so the window is not directly in front of you or use light sheers on your windows.

Get an Adjustable Desk Lamp

Switching between your monitor and paper documents can put a real strain on your eyes. You can help relieve that strain by adding a lamp or other light source on your desk that you can adjust. This can allow you to position the light as you need to reduce glare and eye strain.

Keep Decorations to a Minimum

All those photos, toys, and motivational pictures in your workspace can actually do more harm than good. Not only can they distract you, but they can cause your eyes to constantly re-focus and adjust. So keep the decorations to a minimum and store only what you need on your desk.

Here are some other quick tips to protect your eyes at the office:

Buy an Anti-Glare Screen

When you can’t move your desk, you can at least cut down on any glare with an anti-glare screen. The chemical coating reduces the amount of light that reflects off of the display screen. This makes it much easier to see your monitor without aggravating your eyes.

Get a Night Light

Blue light is a major cause of eye strain these days. Fortunately, you can pick up a “night light” filter to lower the blue and white light from your screen.

Check Your Prescription

If you wear glasses, you should get regular eye exams and check that your prescription is up to date. The reason you’re struggling to read or have eye strain could be due to your outdated prescription and not your desk set up at all.

Get Custom Computer Glasses

If you’ve tried everything from night lights to ergonomics with no success, it might be time to get a pair of computer glasses to eliminate the strain on your neck and eyes. Getting custom computer glasses will help you see the computer better and read with ease.
Remember these tips so you can incorporate them into your office space to protect your eyes when working.  And if you’re still experiencing issues, come see us at Laurier Optical for an eye exam. We’ll make sure you have the proper prescription, and we can even set you up with special glasses that will help reduce glare at work. Contact us today!