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The New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program (NM LAP)
Did you know that eyestrain is a common issue for professionals who spend extended periods in front of a computer, often resulting in headaches, difficulty focusing, and increased sensitivity to light?
To prevent eyestrain, ergonomics expert Alan Hedge advises that "the distance from your eyes to the screen should be approximately an arm's length. You should be able to comfortably read the text on your screen at that distance without squinting."
Other ways to reduce eyestrain or discomfort while working throughout the day:
- Blink often to refresh your eyes and/or use eyedrops to keep eyes healthy.
- Take small breaks away from the screen every hour.
- Check the lighting and reduce any glare on the screen.
- Adjust your monitor’s brightness.
- Talk to your optometrist about blue-light glasses/contacts
How do blue light blocking glasses/contacts work?
To combat the harmful effects of blue light, experts advocate the use of blue light blocking glasses/contacts. These specialty glasses and contacts have a specific coating that covers the lens/contact. This coating contains filtering materials that block some of the light coming from your device. To be fair, the coating doesn't block out blue light completely, otherwise you would not be able to see at all. However, by reducing the light intensity that enters your eyes, you are more protected against the harmful effects of constant exposure. The sole purpose of wearing blue light blocking glasses is to reduce exposure significantly.
To learn more about the effect of blue light from devices, read this article published by the U.C. Davis Eye Center.
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