Many of us spend a lot of time in front of the computer each day—and it can really take a toll on your eyes. Eye strain is a common complaint in many workplaces—so it’s important to know how to prevent it and to utilize the 20-20-20 Rule.
The 20-20-20 Rule encourages you to move your gaze away from the computer screen every 20 minutes, for a duration of at least 20 seconds, and you should be looking at an object that is at least 20 feet away.
Following this simple rule will help you relieve your eyes of strain or tiredness, and you can also make other small adjustments to help prevent eye strain. Try adjusting your computer screen’s brightness and text size from time to time. An extremely bright screen will hurt your eyes and you could be squinting and straining to read if the text is too small or if the brightness setting is too dim.
It’s also key to stand up and move around every hour or so. That will help your eyes adjust to everything away from your computer screen. Staring for too long at your computer can also cause neck, back and shoulder pain—so it’s important to take breaks and move when you can.
If you follow the 20-20-20 Rule, you’ll alleviate stress and potential damage to your eyes. It’s easy to get too adjusted to our work on the screen, but here at Valley Eyecare Center, your eye health and safety are of utmost importance—so always remember to take care of your eyes so eye strain does not take hold.
Some eye strain symptoms to watch out for include decreased productivity, sore or red eyes, eye twitching and fatigue.
If you experience eye strain due to prolonged screen exposure, schedule an eye appointment with us at Valley Eyecare Center!
