By: Hello Doctor
By: Hello Doctor
The arrival of the coronavirus pandemic at the beginning of 2020 deepened a work modality that was already coming growing in recent years: teleworking.
In this form of work, the use of screens is mainly used, so eye care is essential. Find out here what precautions you should take into account to protect your eyes while teleworking.
Telework can be defined as a form of work carried out in a location away from a company’s office or production facilities.
This can be done through the use of cell phones, tablets, and computers, among other information and communication technologies. For this reason, many surveys found that adults in average spend more than 10 hours in front of a screen each day.
Another research finding is that we blink less when we read or look at a screen, causing our eyes to become dry and irritated. This causes eye or vision fatigue, a condition that in turn can lead to headaches, blurred vision, and other forms of discomfort.
Fortunately, there are simple measures that can be taken during the day to reduce constant exposure to screens and prevent eyestrain:
Specialists agree that it is very important to take frequent breaks when teleworking. Normally, it is advisable to rest 15 minutes every hour and a half or two hours, although lately another form of recreation became very popular: the rule of 20 – 20 – 20.
What does it consist of? Simple, every 20 minutes you should take a break of 20 seconds, and focus on something that is at 15 feet away (6 meters).
During these breaks you can also take advantage of blinking conscientiously, since when working in front of a screen the blinkings are reduced from 15 at 5 per minute, and perform simple movements, such as stretching arms, legs or shoulders to promote blood circulation.
Another key aspect occurs during mealtime. When working remotely, having lunch in front of the screen may seem more efficient or be an opportunity to save time, but the truth is that your eyes and brain will thank you for taking a break.
This not only serves to prevent eye strain but also to relax you and get a better perspective on what you are doing.
During telework we spend a lot of time sitting in front of screens, so a good posture and correct disposition are key.
Make sure the computer is at least an arm’s length from your face. Also note that:
Good posture when teleworking and being aware of the need to take frequent breaks is essential to prevent eyestrain, however, there are other factors that you should not overlook:
It is often said that the eyes are windows to what is happening in the body, therefore, it is essential to keep these windows in good condition.
In addition to following the advice developed above, do not forget to schedule annual eye exams, even if you have good vision or do not suffer from visual fatigue or eye discomfort.
An eye exam is useful to know the state of the blood vessels and nerves, at the same time that it allows detecting any condition in time to carry out the best treatment.
Even, its benefits are not limited to identifying vision problems, through eye exams the ophthalmologist can detect other health problems, such as high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, and cancer.
Sources consulted: American Academy of Ophthalmology, US National Library of Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mayo Clinic, National Eye Institute.