As someone that works on a computer all day long and every day except Sundays I can tell you that eye fatigue and eye strain are one of the biggest problems that I encounter on a daily basis. I still have an occasional day hampered by my inability to look at a screen because of eye fatigue, but I’ve been able to lower how often that happens because of a few changes I made.
Can a computer monitor damage your eyes?
You might be surprised to hear that the actual answer to this is no. Although it may strain and fatigue your eyes it certainly won’t make you more near-sighted.
Decreasing Eye Fatigue/Strain, and Headaches from Monitors
Here are a few tips that have really helped me out.
1. Improve the ergonomics of your work space. You can do this by adjusting the position of your monitor and keyboard. Your monitor should be at eye level so that you can view your monitor with your chin slightly up. Make sure your monitor is positioned 20-26 inches from where you are sitting. Move your keyboard to a position where your shoulders can be completely relaxed. Being relaxed while working will limit the amount of headaches and strain you get from sitting and staring at your monitor for long periods of time.
2. Light it up! Working in a dark space is often the cause of many people’s eye fatigue; however, putting a strong light behind you can often create shadows. Avoid this where possible. Conversely adding a light in front of you is beneficial. This additional back light will make reading easier and cause less fatigue.
3. Get Computer Glasses. If you normally wear reading glasses, then consider getting computer glasses. Reading glasses are made for a different viewing distance and are ideal for up to a 16 inch distance not a 26 inch distance. Consult your eye doctor for more details.
4. Buy a good monitor. My Mother always told me to buy a a nice bed, socks, shoes, and anything else I use a lot. Since I spend 8 hours on my bed and 10 hours on my computer each day, then I can only assume she would have thought that a monitor was also important. Here’s a list of some of the best computer monitors available for 2012.
5. Adjust the contrast and resolution of your computer monitor to meet your needs. It should feel comfortable to look at.
Ok, that wraps up my tips. Let me know if you have success implementing them. You can also check out my site on Gaming PC Hardware.