Reduce Eye Damage at Work

Information campaign – English version

Source: internet
 How does looking at the screens damage
your eyes?
Staring at a screen for too long can cause eyestrain, but it won't cause permanent
damage to your eyes.
What are the Eye and vision problems associated with computer use?
Dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca);
Eye Strain or Fatigue (Asthenopia);
Blurred Vision;
Burning, itching or tearing eyes;
Temporary change in ability to see colours; and/or
Tired or irritated eyes
Headaches, shoulder, neck or back pain
 Risk factors for vision problems

The main risk factors for developing eye or vision problems through computer use are:

Viewing unclear or flickering images;

Viewing images or characters on the screen which are too small;
Using a screen which is glary or reflects other images;
Working with background lighting which is too bright;
Sitting an inappropriate distance from the screen (too close or too far);
Looking at the computer screen for long periods of time, particularly without breaks; and
Working in a stressful environment
Warning signs for eye health

Possible symptoms that a person may be experiencing vision trouble include:

frequent changes in visual clarity

seeing distorted images
seeing floaters or flashes in the field of vision
reduced peripheral vision
 Preventing eye health problems
related to computer use
Use appropriate computer screen
Work station ergonomics
Glare and reflection (Glare results when there is a high level of contrast between
the intensity of light in the foreground and background, for example, if a bright
window is positioned behind a computer screen)
Intensity of lightning
Take regular breaks from computer use (20/20/20 rule: after 20 minutes, look at a
person 20 feet- 6m away for 20 seconds )
Perform eye exercise regularly
Wear glasses not contact lenses
Prevent dry eyes
Employee training
Vision tests
 Case study 1: Eye fatigue, blurred vision
and headaches
A 34 year old female project manager visited an optometric clinic for eye fatigue during work
which required close-up viewing, periodic blurred vision and frequent frontal headaches in
the early evening. She had treated her symptoms with analgesia in the past but found no
relief. Her eye examination revealed no permanent eye damage, however her clinical history
revealed the following working conditions were contributing to eye strain:
Five hours of work per day at the computer over the previous 12 months, without sufficient
breaks to allow the eyes to rest and focus in different fields of vision;
A viewing distance of only 12 inches (30 cm) from the computer monitor; and
Her computer monitor being positioned on top of the CPU, creating a viewing angle that was
above eye level and which therefore increased exposure of the eye’s surface.
Based on her eye examination and clinical history, she was diagnosed with CVS. The following
measures were implemented to treat the condition:
She was prescribed glasses and advised to wear them for work involving close-up viewing;
She was advised to reposition her computer screen so that it was at least 18 inches and up to
30 inches away from her eyes, and so that the top of the screen was at eye level
She was advised to take regular breaks and perform simple eye exercises, when involved in
extended periods of computer use (i.e. more than 1 hour).
 Case 2: Eye fatigue and dry eyes
A 28 year old male information technology manager came to an optometric clinic and reported
increased eye fatigue and dry eyes. He had previously consulted his physician but was found to be
in good health. The eye examination suggested that he had normal eye and vision conditions.
However based on his clinical history, which revealed extensive computer use with infrequent
breaks, he was diagnosed with CVS with transient nearsightedness.
His eye fatigue and dry eyes were associated with two factors:
Working for 8 hours or more a day at the computer during the previous 12 months, without taking
breaks to allow the eyes to rest focus on distant objects; and
The existence of various visual ergonomic problems in the patient’s work environment; while the
screen was positioned at an appropriate viewing distance of 22 inches (56 cm), his computer
screen was higher than eye level and produced glare and reflection.
The following measures were recommended to treat the condition, and resulted in significant
improvement of symptoms:
Adjust the computer workstation, to reduce glare and reflection and aligning the top of the
computer screen at eye level to reduce the proportion of the eye’s surface exposed when viewing
the screen;
Taking regular breaks to perform simple eye exercises when the eyes become strained (Visual
Training)
More on How to Keep Your Eyes
Healthy
Eat well - Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and
E might help ward off age-related vision problems like macular
degeneration and cataracts
-> see next slide

Quit Smoking
Food for your eye
More on How to Keep Your Eyes
Healthy
Recommended daily intake of healthy eye nutrients
500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C
400 international units of vitamin E
10 mg lutein
2 mg zeaxanthin
80 mg of zinc oxide
2 mg of copper oxide