Computers have become a part of our daily life. It is not anymore only the work that makes us stuck to the computers; these devices have become our regular companion for entertainment and communication as well.
While computers have actually made our lives easier, it has subjected us to a bunch of radiations and it is our eyes that have to take the maximum burn of it.
In this tech-savvy world staying away from the computers is not a feasible option, and hence the best we can do is to take maximum precautions to ensure that the effect of the computer radiation is minimized on the eyes.
The good thing is that, by following some simple processes and ways we can significantly minimize the total strain on the eyes caused due to working on computers for hours together.
When you use computer for 1-2 hours a day, your eyes can easily take the strain caused, but when the sitting time in front of your computer spans to 8 hours or even more, things start to become really difficult for your eyes.
So, if you are spending a good part of the day or the most part of the day in front of your computer, it is time when you should start taking the protection of your eyes from computer radiation seriously.
There are debates about the radiations caused by a computer. According to many, computers radiate magnetic waves as well as radio waves all of which can be harmful for the body.
However, according to scientists, the amount of radiation of these waves by the computers is much lower than their permissible limits and hence they cause no damage to the body.
However, the blue light radiation from the computer screen can actually strain your eyes and give rise to problems like, blurred vision, irritability in the eyes and dry eyes. Headache can also be a side effect of it.
While reducing your time on the computer can be the direct solution to protect your eyes from computer radiation, it might not be a feasible option particularly if you are a busy professional.
In such cases, the best way is to undertake some simple measures that can reduce the strain on your eyes and can be helpful to protect them from any harmful effects of the computer radiation.
Use the computer in the right way
Using the computer in the right way can actually minimize the straining effects of the computer screen on the eyes to a great extent.
Here we have noted some changes that you should make to ensure that you are placing your eyes in the right position from the computer screen,
Maintain the right distance
This is one of the very first things that you need to do to ensure that the effect of the computer radiation is minimized on your eyes.
The right distance of the computer screen from your eyes should be not less than the length of your arm. It is said that if you can high five your computer screen with a full arm without having to tilt it back, you are at the right distance.
However, in most of the cases, we maintain a distance that is much shorter than the full arms’ length, which multiplies the straining effect of the radiation on the eyes.
Get the right angle
While maintaining the right distance of the computer screen from your eyes is important, setting the screen at the right angle from your eyes is also vital to minimize the straining effect.
The computer screen should not be at the same height of your eyes. It should be positioned 4 to 5 inches lower than your eyes, so that your eyes can see the screen at an angle of around 20 degrees.
This will ensure that a good part of the eyes is covered with the eyelids, which can keep the problem of dry eyes and eye irritations at bay.
Proper lighting is important
To make the computer screen more comfortable for your eyes and to minimize the effects of the screen radiation, it is important that the surrounding of the computer is lighted properly.
Using a computer in the dark, will make it more straining for your eyes; when you place the computer screen in front of a bright source of light, it will also cause over straining making your eyes work hard to see things on the screen clearly.
Having a bright light in front of the screen can also increase the amount of reflected light by the screen making it more difficult for your eyes.
Adjust the screen brightness and contrast
The brightness and contrast of the screen play a vital role in minimizing the harmful effects of the screen radiation on the eyes, making it more soothing.
High screen brightness or low screen brightness both are not appropriate for your eyes. At the same time, high contrast can make things appear crispier on the screen but it is sure to strain your eyes more.
So, adjust the brightness and contrast of your computer screen to a level that is most comfortable for your eyes to minimize the strain and the side effects.
Use a glare protector on the computer screen
For people who sit in front of the computers for around 8 hours a day it is actually important that they use a physical glare protector on the screen of the computer.
The glare protectors might reduce the visual appeal of the things being displayed on the monitor, but it will save your eyes from severe straining.
Glare protectors for computer screen are now easily available and you can get a good quality one without making a hole in your pocket.
Keep the screen clean
Keeping the screen of your computer clean from dust, grim and fingerprints can be highly helpful in minimizing the reflection from the screen. Reduced reflection can make it more pleasing for your eyes.
So, take the best care to clean the screen of your computer regularly with a soft cloth and use the specialized computer screen cleaners as well at frequent intervals to ensure that the screen is absolutely free from dust and stains.
Buy a protective glass for your eyes
There are different types of protective eyeglasses out there that can be helpful to offer your eyes maximum protection from any unfriendly radiation and straining effects of the computer screen.
Buy and use a pair of these glasses when you are sitting in front of the computer screen, even if you do not use glasses or lenses otherwise.
For people who use glass or lenses on a regular basis, it is important to get a special coating on their glass or contact lenses that can minimize the harmful effects of the computer radiation on the eyes.
Blink more often
Blinking is a natural mechanism that helps in relieving the stress on the eyes. When we sit in front of the computer and concentrate on something on it, we often forget to blink and the frequency of blinking is reduced to a great extent.
This can be highly harmful for the eyes and can work as one of the primary reasons of eye irritation. So, when you are watching the computer screen, make it a point to blink as often as possible.
Take frequent breaks
When you cannot reduce the time you spend in front of computers, the best way to minimize the harmful effects of the computer radiation on your eyes is to take frequent breaks.
Take a break after every 20 minutes and if you cannot make it to leave the seat every time, just look away from the computer screen for 20 seconds before getting back at it.
Also make it a point to take a break of at least 10 minutes after looking at the computer screen for 1.5 hours.
During these breaks, splash some normal water on your eyes, this will reduce the strain significantly and will also ward off the problems like blurred vision, dry eyes or eye irritability.
Change the text size on the screen
You can easily change the size of the texts being displayed on your computer screen by changing the settings of your computer.
Opting for a text size that is more comfortable for your eyes to read can certainly minimize the straining caused due to looking at the computer screen for long.
The changes mentioned above for protecting your eyes from the computer screen radiation might seem to be very simple, but in reality these simple changes can give the best effects in protecting your eyes.
So, implement them in use right from today and even if they seem to be unfriendly at first, in a few weeks they will become a habit that can actually protect your eyes from computer radiation.
These simple changes can also give you relief from the bunch of side effects of eye straining that are very common in people who spend hours on their computers.
