When you think about office work, you typically wouldn’t consider it a risky profession. While that statement is mostly true, there are a few hazards to protect against. Here are a few areas of concern and what you can do to ward off eye health trouble in the office.
Computer Time
The biggest eye care problem for office workers comes from the many hours spent in front of a computer screen. Eye strain causes a number of problems such as headaches, burning eyes, redness, watering, neck pain, sleep problems, and fatigue. Make sure that your work station is well lit, your screen is large enough or your resolution is configured to provide a clear display, and take eye care breaks often. A good rule of thumb is to use the 20-20-20 technique, where for every 20 minutes you spend working at a computer or a small screen, take 20 seconds to look 20 feet away. This will help give your eyes a break.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Sitting in an office chair all day long can definitely have an impact on your waistline, but you might not realize that it can affect your eyes too. Being overweight may result in diabetes, high blood pressure, or other serious medical conditions. These diseases cause changes in your eyes that may result in loss of sight. Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma are major causes of adult blindness. Talk to your doctor for suggestions for staying active at your desk and warding off weight-related illnesses and resulting eye issues.
Prescription Updates
Office jobs require a lot of reading and writing. As you age, your eye shape changes and often will cause you to need reading glasses or adjustments to your vision correction needs. Wearing old glasses for too long can result in headaches and eye strain. An annual eye exam will keep you in the right prescription and also identify any early signs of eye disease.
Eye care for individuals working in an office is just as important as those in industrial occupations. See your Phoenix optometrist regularly to keep your eyes in great overall health.
