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4 Ways to Reduce Digital Eyestrain at the Office

Uncover practical solutions that can make a significant difference in your daily work routine, enhancing your focus and comfort while discovering tips to alleviate digital eye strain.

March 18, 2024

It’s 4 o’clock, and you’re so close to completing that proposal that must be sent out by end-of-day. You can see the finish line, but your productivity has waned, you have a slight headache, you’re starting to rub your eyes and you are finding it hard to keep your focus. For those of us who spend the majority of our workday in front of a screen, this feeling is all too familiar.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, eyestrain is caused by long periods of activity involving eye focus, such as viewing mobile devices and computer screens, reading books, driving or watching TV. When looking at a device or monitor close-up for prolonged periods of time, the lens of the eye naturally contracts and doesn’t have a chance to relax. Blinking is also reduced, which decreases the redistribution and replenishment of the tear layer, which helps sharpen vision.

According to The Vision Council, nearly 6 out of 10 American adults they surveyed reported experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain. These symptoms may include:

–  Neck/shoulder pain
–  Headaches
–  Red, irritated eyes
–  Blurred vision
–  Dry eyes
–  Inability to keep eyes open

This phenomenon can be uncomfortable and disruptive in the workplace. Here are 4 ways to mitigate the symptoms of eyestrain, to help you feel better and stay on track:

1. Rest your eyes

It is important to take regular, short breaks from looking at the screen. The 20-20-20 rule is easy to remember and implement: Every 20 minutes, redirect your gaze and focus on something at least 20 feet away and do so for at least 20 seconds.

2. Change the lighting in your environment

Anything you can do to reduce reflections, glare and bright lighting will help. This can be achieved by updating and improving the lighting in the office or by using glare-reducing screen protectors and anti-reflective glasses.

3. Remember to wear your prescription glasses

If you don’t already have prescription glasses, consult your ophthalmologist or optometrist, as individuals who typically do not require glasses may find it necessary to use corrective lenses for computer work, especially if over the age of 35.

4. Artificial tears

Ensuring there is adequate eye moisture through blinking, using artificial tears or turning on a humidifier in a dry environment can help you avoid eyestrain.

Given that SnapCab adheres to a people-centric design philosophy, the user’s focus and comfort is of the utmost importance. While numerous considerations have gone into our designs, lighting is a major one.

To ensure our products are optimized for both individual heads-down work and collaboration with others, we have introduced a new standard lighting style: 3-wall indirect perimeter lighting. In contrast to direct task lighting, the glow of our warm-tone indirect perimeter lighting reduces glare, shadows, and harsh contrasts, helping to prevent eyestrain and ensuring the user looks and feels their best during virtual calls and meetings.

We want our clients to get the most out of their investment with SnapCab workplace solutions. Hence why we’ve made the choice, and followed the science, to offer warm-tone indirect perimeter lighting in every pod we manufacture at no extra charge.

Want to know more? A knowledgeable SnapCab Product Specialist can answer your questions today!

For more information or for interview requests, please contact Carla Bostock at Carla.Bostock@SnapCab.com