Due to the high use of electronic devices, both in and out of the office, a new study has found that 70% of US adults suffer from digital eyestrain. Digital eyestrain is due to the prolonged use of electronic devices; in an effort to prevent workplace eyestrain, the following is suggested:
- Ensure that employees have a work area allowing them to sit 20-26 inches away from their screen.
- Provide employees with a document holder to place next to their screen. This will ensure that they don’t have to switch eye focus frequently to reference documents.
- Recommend a large text size for computer use to allow comfortable reading.
- Choose screens that can tilt and swivel to allow employees to find a comfortable reading angle.
- Ensure that you are using appropriate lighting in your office to lower glare and reflections.
Additionally, it is recommended that computer users take a 20 second break from staring at their computer screen every 20 minutes, looking at something that is at least 20 feet away.
Symptoms of digital eyestrain include dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches. If your employees report these symptoms, they should see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
