Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is the number one health complaint for most companies. It occurs when your eyes stare at computer screens for an extended period of time. As you switch between screens, write emails, and watch presentations, your eyes are constantly refocusing and readjusting. Side effects of CVS include blurred vision or the inability to focus, neck and back pain, and headaches. Excessive eye strain can lead to eye twitches, or dry, irritated eyes, and can also cause lower productivity and work errors. Here are a few simple practices to combat CVS and work your eye muscles, helping stimulate the vision center of your brain:

•  20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look at an object roughly 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

• Relax Your Eyelids: Rub your palms together to generate heat, then place them gently on your closed eyes. Keep your eyes closed and relax for a few minutes.

• Be Mindful Of Blinking: Every 20 minutes, blink your eyes slowly 10 times. This will help reduce dry eye issues.

• Be Aware Of Your Posture: Every 20 minutes, readjust how you are sitting so your back isn’t hunched over and your neck isn’t strained to focus on the screen.

• Check Your Lighting: Make sure that you do not have your back to the sunlight or any lighting that causes excessive glare on your screen, making it hard to see what you are watching or working on.

Beyond these little changes, we suggest that our patients purchase computer glasses with blue-filtering lenses. These are a secondary pair of glasses (not intended to replace your regular prescription pair,) made specifically for the workplace environment. Computer glasses could be prescription or non-prescription, depending on your vision needs. Contact our office for more information on computer glasses.