Reduce eye strain caused by computer use

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Hoang Thanh Nga - Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.

In the era of technology 4.0, computers are indispensable leading devices in people's lives. Besides the benefits that computers bring, it will affect the health of users, especially visual disturbances such as: eye fatigue, dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches,... Here is some information to help us reduce eye strain when using a computer and keep our eyes healthy.

1. Causes of eye strain when looking at a computer

Computers are commonly used in work, study and entertainment. About 60% of office workers have eye diseases, 3⁄4 of people who regularly work with computers have eye dysfunction. Most of them suffer from dry eye disease.
According to some scientific studies, our eyes blink an average of 20 times / minute, from which tears will be adjusted to wet the eyes and help remove some dirt on the surface of the eyeball. When using a computer, we focus so much that we reduce the number of blinks to 1⁄3 or 2⁄3 times per minute, which will dry out the eyes, cause the eyes to become puffy, red, and blurred. This is the main cause of eyestrain caused by computer use.
In addition, the configuration of the computer also affects the eyes. The characters and images on the computer are not as sharp and clear as on paper, which requires the eyes to adjust to process so that they can see the characters clearly for a long time, making the eyes work much more stressful.

Besides, factors such as the light intensity of the machine, the light reflected from the outside, the incorrect placement of the computer or the quality of the computer, ... also make the eyes worse.
Not only that, our sitting posture compared to the computer or due to the nature of work that forces us to focus on every detail for hours in a row and the inappropriate way we protect our eyes also contribute to the impact. not good for the eyes.

2. Consequences of too much eye contact with the computer

If you use a computer less and protect your eyes properly, you may experience mild symptoms such as eye strain, eye pain, etc. But if you use the computer incorrectly for a long time, it will cause more severe symptoms. such as: Dry eyes, burning like a foreign body in the eye, eyes gradually blurred and there is pain in the eye socket. There are also headaches and aches in the neck and back.

3. Solution for eye protection

First of all, you need to check your health status to see if you have refractive eye disease? Help to adjust and prevent timely computer-caused syndromes.
In the process of using the computer, you must blink many times to wet your eyes, do not strain your eyes for too long when looking at the computer screen. Give your eyes a reasonable rest, maintain the 20-20-20 method, that is, about 20 minutes after looking at the computer screen need to look away about 20 feet (6m) for 20 seconds, can look out the door window or look at trees to relax and regulate eye muscles. Between working hours, you should rest your eyes for about 10-15 minutes, gently massage the area around the eyes. Sit in the correct posture: Eyes are about 50-60cm away from the screen, the center of the screen is about 10-20cm lower than the eyes, so you should sit so that your hands are parallel to the floor, your legs are perpendicular to the ground, your back is straight and your back straight. Keep your shoulders balanced. Place the computer on the side of a window to avoid direct sunlight from hitting the screen. If using the device at night, it is necessary to adjust the brightness of the light so that it is reasonable, neither too dark nor too bright, and place the device in a place where the light does not reflect on the screen. Adjust the font and font size appropriately for the most comfortable viewing: adjust the font size to 3 times the smallest eye-readable font size, choose black text on a white background or bold text on a light background. Clean the computer screen regularly as well as choose a machine with sharp configuration so that the eyes can be more comfortable when working and studying. It is recommended to install a filter for the screen or use a liquid crystal display to help limit eye strain and reduce the contrast of the screen.

Note: Supplement with vitamins A, E, B2,... in the meal (green vegetables, salmon, root vegetables such as carrots, strawberries, avocado, chili, ...)
Can use additional drops eyes and maintain good physical condition. Go to an ophthalmologist for a timely check-up if you find bad eye problems.
Vinmec Times City International General Hospital provides customers with a refractive error screening package to help customers proactively check and screen for eye diseases, contributing to protecting their eyes as well as their health.
With 10 years of experience in the field of Ophthalmology, she used to work at Thai Nguyen Central Hospital and held the position of deputy head of the department and in charge of the Department of Ophthalmology at Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Master Hoang Thanh Nga has a lot of experience in the field of examination and treatment of eye diseases. Currently, as an ophthalmologist at the Department of Internal Medicine, Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Times City for examination or contact hotline 0243 9743 556 for support.