Many office workers find headaches to be a regular part of their work day. While there are many causes for headaches, two common triggers for computer users are eye stain and muscle tension. In a previous article I gave some tips for dealing with tension in the shoulders and neck. Now I was to share way to prevent eye strain and reduce work-induced headaches.

Tips to reduce eye strain, and eliminate work-induced headaches:

• Move your computer screen – Make sure you monitor is not too close to your eyes; it should be a full arm’s length away. You should also center your screen directly in front of you at eye level. A monitor riser can help add any necessary height.
• Try a document holder – Constantly refocusing your eyes between a document and monitor screen can overwork your eye muscles. A document holder placed next to your monitor and at the same distance from your eyes can eliminate the need to change focus every few seconds.
• Take a break – Give you eyes a break every few minutes and look out the window to focus at something in the distance. And every hour or two, stop and close your eyes for a minute to let your eyes relax.
• Schedule an eye exam – A good night’s sleep should effectively relieve eye strain. If your discomfort continues in the morning, or if there are other changes in your vision, schedule an eye exam as soon as possible to ensure there are no other vision issues.
• Change your lighting – Lighting can strain eye muscles without you even being aware that something is wrong. Dim lighting or the flicker from florescent bulbs can cause often cause eyestrain and headaches. Change to a better light bulb, or add a desk lamp for brighter lighting.
• Get rid of glare – If you see a reflection or glare on your screen, quickly take action to eliminate it.  Try closing the window blinds, or putting up a dark panel to block direct light. You can also try using a glare filter on your monitor. It will also help to keep your monitor free of any dust or debris.

When your work requires extended focus on one task, it is easy to suffer from eyestrain and induce a headache. A document holder can reduce the work load on your eyes. And a monitor riser can help you optimize your screen placement. These small changes can help you relieve eyestrain and prevent work-induced headaches.

Filed under: Category Uncategorized | Tags: document holder,eye strain,headache,pain,Tips by christy