Help For Eye Strain On Computer

Hours and hours sitting in front of a bright white screen can make us stir crazy not to mention seeing spots before our eyes. After a while I find myself making mistakes I wouldn’t normally make mostly because of eyestrain. So what do you do?

Here are a few tips I’ve used to help my poor ol’ peepers.

• Background Color

First thing you can do that’s a big help when creating a document is go up to your toolbar to “Format”. Scroll down to “Background”; you have a whole page of color options to change that bright white color to something a bit easier to look at. Taupe seems to be much more soothing to me but you pick whatever you like just don’t pick red, black or neon colors. Those are just as bad as white.

Pick a nice mellow cream, powder blue or pale green if taupe is too bland. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes.

• Increase Font

Whether you are answering emails or writing you can increase the size of your work making it easier to see.

Go to the top of your Word document where you see a white box with numbers and a percent sign. In most versions you can click in that box and increase the font size to 150% or whatever makes it easier for you to see. I currently like 175% myself but play around with it and see what works best for you.

If you are in your email or reading blogs you can increase them by simply pressing the “Control” or “Command” key and the plus sign key at the top of your keyboard. It will make the whole screen larger font and all. You can click on those keys again if you want it even bigger. To decrease it you just touch the “Control/Command” and the minus/hyphen buttons.

• Take a Break

This isn’t always easy especially if you are on the clock or the muse is flowing and you need to get words down before they fly away but experts say that after 20 minutes, take your eyes off your computer and look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Do other work, try to stand up and move around at least once every hour or so. Stretch your arms, shoulders and back. If possible, lean back and close your eyes for a few moments.

• Chrysanthemum Tea

The Chinese have used this infusion of flower heads for thousands of years to relieve soar eyes from too much work.

You can drink this in tea form or put the damp teabags on your eyes for a few minutes to ease stress.

• Sliced Cucumber

Put a slice on each eye and lay with them closed for a few minutes.

• Lighting

Having enough light is important but too bright of lights can cause eye stress. Try turning off a few and see if it doesn’t help. Florescent lighting can be harder on our eyes than incandescent even though they save on electricity.

• Cold Water

Splashing your face and eyes with cool water can ease tension and calm the weariness. Of course if you are wearing make-up this may not be an option.

• Warm Towel

If you aren’t wearing make up another idea is a warm wet towel laid across the eyes.

• Eye Drops

Dry tired eyes can get relief from eye drops. Put them in as directed and lean back for a few minutes with them closed.

• Eyebright Tea

Not only is this tea good at easing your eyes but also helps relieve cold and allergy symptoms. It is thought to improve eyesight as well.

In Tibet they do an eye exercise that is supposed to correct visual weakness and improve your eyesight.

Here's the link: