Look after your eyes
I have good news. Using a computer, even for hours at a time, won't cause permanent damage to our eyes, or result in us needing glasses if that otherwise wouldn't have been the case.
It can tire them though, so we're advised to follow the 20, 20, 20 rule. That involves taking a 20 second break, every 20 minutes, by looking at least 20 feet away. This information, and more about our eyes and computer work is on the RNIB site here.
I don't think we need to be obsessive about it, setting stopwatches and stuff. Just try not to push yourself so hard you don't glance away from the screen or keyboard every now and then. Getting up and looking out the window occasionally is probably even better. (Photos are what I've see. when doing that in the mobile writing retreat.)
How are your eyes? Do you wear glasses when writing? (I do. I bought ones I don't like the look of in the hope it would remind me to swap them for my distance ones before I go out. I take them off for reading, as my near sight is good.)
7 comments:
Marguerite
Contact lenses for the last umpteen years but need to wear cheap 'readers' if I'm doing something close, like reading or typing, so best to take them out for me. Do I spend too long looking at a screen without a break? Probably: so thank you for the reminder. Were you in zero gravity in the last picture, Patsy?
Good advice Patsy, keep meaning to get my eyes tested to check for other eye issues but haven't got around to it even though I've resorted to using €2 low level reading glasses. Must organise an appointment.
I wear glasses for distance (including computer screen much of the time) but must take them off to read. Please, please, everybody get your eyes tested annually by an optician. My husband is registered blind (though he does still have some useful vision, but it's more or less pin-hole) as a result of untreated glaucoma. Catch it early via your optician and it is very treatable. I will try and take more screen-breaks, Patsy - thanks for reminder.
Thanks for the tip, Patsy.
I wear glasses for reading and using the laptop, etc. I suffer from dry eyes and my optician has just told me to up the drops to 3 times a day. Perhaps I'm not taking enough screen-breaks...
HB
Thanks for the reminder Patsy. I usually work by the kitchen window so definitely take plenty of breaks (maybe too many!) as cats, birds and sometimes foxes catch my attention.
Totally agree with Eirin re eye tests. My optician discovered higher pressure in one of my eyes five years ago. Thanks to the eye clinic and daily drops I’m still in the ‘pre-glaucoma’ stage so very grateful it was spotted.
Good to think about this. I also work at a window, so easy to break off and look at what's going on outside. I wear varifocals, and the bit in the centre isn't ideal for computer screens, so I find myself taking them on and off as I work.
Looking after our eyes is so important. I’ve worn glasses, now contact lenses, for short sight since childhood. I recently had a sight test and the pressure in my eyes is higher than before. It’s still in normal range, but I’m so glad they will keep a check on it.
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