2–8
Safety & Comfort Guide
Finding Your Comfort Zone
Eyes
Eyes
Working at your computer for long periods can be a
visually demanding task and may cause your eyes to
become irritated and fatigued. Therefore, you should give
special attention to vision care, including the following
recommendations:
Resting Your Eyes
Give your eyes frequent breaks. Periodically look away
from the monitor and focus at a distant point. This may
also be a good time to stretch, breathe deeply, and relax.
Cleaning Your Monitor and Glasses
Keep your display screen and your glasses or contact
lenses clean. If you use a glare-reduction filter, clean it
according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Having Your Eyes Examined
To be sure that your vision is adequately corrected, have
your eyes examined regularly by a vision care specialist. If
you wear bifocals, trifocals, or progressive addition lenses,
you may find that you need to assume an awkward
posture to use your glasses at the computer. Mention this
to your vision specialist and consider having glasses
prescribed that are specifically suited for working with a
computer monitor. For more information,
refer to Chapter
3, in the section “Monitor.”
TIPS
Think about your
blink
While looking at your
monitor, remember
to blink. Although
blinking your eyes is
something you
normally do without
thinking, you may be
blinking less often
when using your
computer (studies
have indicated that,
on average, people
blink 1/3 as
frequently at the
computer). Blinking
helps keep your
eyes naturally
protected and
lubricated and helps
prevent dryness, a
common source of
discomfort.
Eye break
Give your eyes
frequent rests by
focusing them on a
distant point.