Wellness news: Combating Computer Vision Syndrome

For many of us at Pacific, our your jobs involve hours of work at a computer. Maybe you also like to spend your free time surfin' the Net. Whatever the reason, your body may be feeling the effects of spending too much time logged on — dry eyes, tired eyes, headaches, neck pain, blurred vision, to name a few. Luckily, help is on the way.

Here are some simple steps you can take to help minimize the impact of Computer Vision Syndrome:

Keep blinking. It washes your eyes in naturally therapeutic tears.

Remember 20-20-20. Every 20 minutes, spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away, minimum.

Get the right light. Good lighting isn't just flattering — it's healthy for your eyes. So, keep bright lighting overhead to a minimum. Keep your desk lamp shining on your desk, not you. Try to keep window light off to the side, rather than in front or behind you. Use blinds and get a glare screen. Position the computer screen to reduce reflections from windows or overhead lights.

Monitor your monitor. Keep it at least 20 inches from your eyes. Center should be about 4 to 6 inches below your eyes. Also, make sure it's big enough and with just the right brightness and contrast.  Adjust the screen so you look at it slightly downward and are about 24 to 28 inches away. Adjust the screen settings to where they are comfortable — contract polarity, resolution, flicker, etc. Wear those computer glasses. Your doctor can prescribe a pair of eyeglasses just for viewing the computer screen well. If necessary, wear the appropriate corrective lenses while at the computer.

Talk to your doc. Have a comprehensive eye exam by a Vision Service Plan (VSP) network doctor. During your eye exam, your eye doctor can check for more than just computer vision problems. She'll look for signs of health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, glaucoma and macular degeneration. It's an important part of your overall health routine.