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Safety, Health, & Sustainability

Eye Strain

Tips for Eye Strain

eye
  • Utilize the 20-20-20 Rule:  Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look 20 feet away to rest the eyes.
  • Blink and breathe while working. Blinking is critical to keep the eyes lubricated.  Breathing can help a person stay relaxed.
  • Keep the monitor screen clean.  If utilizing a glare reduction filter, remove it and clean both the filter and the screen.
  • Select a high quality glare reduction filter.
    • Circular polarized models are considered the most effective.
    • The American Optometric Association (AOA) has a listing of recommended glare reduction filters at http://www.aoa.org/.
  • Reduce glare on screen by eliminating/reducing overhead or direct lighting, covering windows with blinds/shades, and eliminating reflective surfaces.
  • Select a high quality monitor with at least a 70 Hz refresh rate, 800 by 600 resolution and dot pitch .28 mm or lower.
  • Set the size of the font about three times the size required for normal reading.  Test this by moving three times the normal sitting distance from the screen, and see if text can still be read.
  • Set up work space within easy viewing distance and position to avoid glare.  The most frequently viewed items should be directly in front of the body.
  • Use glasses designed for the intermediate zone of vision.
  • Select eyeglass frames that optimize the viewing area for Video or Visual Display Terminal (VDT) work.
  • Have regular eye check-ups, especially if they feel uncomfortable with viewing monitor screen.