Although some people might not acknowledge this fact, working on a computer for long periods of time will have adverse effects on the health of one's eyes, as well as their overall state of being. Thus, if your eyes get tired, then it's very likely that you'll find it more difficult to focus, which will ultimately lead to a lower level of performance during your line of work. So, what's to be done in such a situation? What can you do in order to avoid an increased level of strain on your eyes, which is typically generated by a monitor's glare?
Well, as always, each different problem requires a different solution, so we'll tackle some of the best-known issues, starting from your position in front of the monitor and ending with the adjustment options provided by your peripheral.
Maintain a safe distance from your monitor
Standing too close to a monitor is quite harmful for one's eyes, so it's a good idea to position it at a relatively large (and safe) distance. The official recommendation made by most eye-doctors (or ophthalmologists, if you prefer) is to position the monitor at a distance ranging between 20 and 40 inches (50 to 100 cm) from your eyes. If you find it difficult to read even when the monitor is placed at 20 inches from you, then you should visit one of the aforementioned doctors or simply adjust the font of the screen to the point where you'll be able to read the text while feeling little or no strain to your eyes.
Ditch CRT, go LCD
I don't know just how many of you still use analog (or CRT) PC monitors either voluntarily or simply because that's what your employer is providing, but I don't envy you. In general, CRT monitors have much worse effects on one's eyes than their more modern, LCD counterparts, so it's a very good idea to try and get yourselves a latest-gen monitor.
However, if there's nothing to be done about this issue, you should at least take some precautionary measures. For example, you could always purchase and install an external anti-glare filter on your CRT monitor, which will certainly be a step forward and considerably reduce the level of strain on your eyes. This anti-glare filter can also go on LCDs, but in general, modern LCD PC monitors don't really need such an accessory.
Properly adjust your monitor's settings
In general, very few people are willing to start going through the monitor's settings and adjust them in order to best fit their needs and provide a minimum amount of strain. While this is the recommended method, there's also an easier way out.
Hence, most PC monitors allow users to choose from a variety of pre-set display modes, each mode automatically adjusting the screen's settings for a certain activity. For example, the monitor I'm currently using features the “Text,” “Internet,” “Game,” “Sport” and “Movie” MagicBright modes, each of them providing a different brightness level, depending on what I'm using the computer for at any given moment (writing, browsing the web, playing a game, watching a movie, etc.).
While these settings are only valid for certain monitors, it's very likely that any modern LCD PC monitor out there provides such features (some of the flat-panel CRTs might too).
So, if you're not willing to spend an hour or two tinkering with your monitor, the built-in modes are the way to go.
Get glasses with anti-reflective lens coating
Although quite a lot of people perceive this option just as useless extra, the truth of the matter is that a layer of anti-reflective coating applied on the lens is very useful because it automatically reduces the level of glare the eyes are subjected to. And I'm not talking just about computer screens, but also about city lights, other cars' incoming flashlights (if you happen to be driving), TV screens, artificial light and, to a lesser extent, even the Sun. In other words, it's quite an useful option that's worth every penny.
Take a few breaksAnother method that usually helps in fighting back eye-strain (at least temporarily) is to take some short breaks from staring at the PC display. Hence, for around five minutes each hour, you should do something else, like walk out, look out the window, etc., anything that will take your eyes off the screen.
Adjust your prescriptionIf you're wearing glasses and none of the methods mentioned above works for you, then it's perhaps for the best to make an appointment with your eye-doctor and check whether you might need a new prescription for your glasses. After all, as your eye-sight is getting poorer, the level of strain increases.
These are only a few practical tips for reducing the level of strain on one's eyes. However, if you happen to have any alternative or extra piece of advice, please feel free to share them with us in the comments section.
