| Northampton Opticians Advice on | | | | Adjust or replace your screen |
| Computer Screens | | | | Older computer screens work in such a way that they |
| Stop eye strain whilst working with computer screens | | | | flicker, not that this can be detected easily by the |
| Many more people are visiting their opticians here in | | | | human eye. New modern LCD screens don't flicker so |
| Northampton on a frequent basis complaining of sore, | | | | consider an upgrade of your computer screen. Set the |
| irritable, itchy or dry eyes and frequent episodes of | | | | contrast and visibility on your screen to suit you. We |
| headaches.Commonly they have many questions | | | | suggest using a larger text size than you are normally |
| about their eyesight and using computers more and | | | | working with at the moment. |
| more. Often than not their eyesight hasn't deteriorated | | | | Take a break |
| since their last visit. A small change in the work | | | | Try to vary the type of work and tasks you do for |
| environment may be the underlying cause of some of | | | | prolonged periods of time. Take a physical break from |
| their symptoms.Of course any adverse symptoms | | | | working with your screen for a least 10 minutes every |
| should never be ignored or assume that they are | | | | hour and rest your eyes. If you normally wear contact |
| directly related to working with computers. It is always | | | | lenses try using your glasses when working on |
| without exception advisable to consult with your GP or | | | | computer screens this will help to lessen the fatigue |
| Optician if you are in any doubt about the cause of | | | | and the dryness of the eyes. |
| your symptoms. | | | | Make sure your workstation is set up ergonomically |
| Glare in your work area and how to eliminate it | | | | General advice for setting up your screen to reduce |
| Glare on your computer screen can be very | | | | eye strain means the centre of the computer screen |
| uncomfortable and in the long run it may harm your | | | | should be no more than 4-9 inches below your eyes. |
| eyesight and cause you discomfort. One of the best | | | | Make sure your screen isn't too far away from you or |
| ways to eliminate it is to have your working area well | | | | too close to enable you to focus on it naturally without |
| lit either by natural light or over head electrical light. If | | | | leaning towards or away from it. Some good advice |
| you are working on your computer in the evening or in | | | | for setting up your work station can be found at: |
| poor light try to have a work light that does not reflect | | | | Stay healthy |
| on any part of your computer screen as this will lead | | | | As with general health advice it also relates to your |
| to fatigue and may cause eye strain and headaches | | | | eyes. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water |
| and dry itchy eyes. | | | | regularly. Eat plenty of foods that are rich in |
| You can get clip on screens or anti-reflection screens | | | | beta-carotene, so yes carrots are good for your |
| from most high street computer retailers. Consider | | | | eyesight. Eye wash solutions are available that will give |
| curtains or blinds that can be positioned at certain | | | | relief to dry irritable eyes, but as with anything it is |
| times of the day to deflect or obscure direct sunlight | | | | better to cure the problem than always deal with the |
| glare. | | | | resulting symptoms. |