![]() ![]() The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, shift the eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds. The best antidote, says Akpek, is to take frequent breaks. So what can those who must work from home do to help protect their eyes? Your vision may become blurred at times, or your eyes may feel irritated and begin to tear. You may have noticed that staring too long at the screen can make your eyes feel tired. “When your eyes become dry, that reduces reading speed, which further increases exposure time and worsens dryness,” says Akpek, “and this can ultimately lead to inflammation of the eye surface and a self-perpetuating chronic dry eye.” ![]() In fact, focusing the eyes on computer screens or other digital displays has been shown to reduce a person’s blink rate by a third to a half.Īccording to Esen Akpek, professor of ophthalmology at Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine and an expert in dry eye, not only does prolonged gazing - such as that which occurs when reading on a computer screen - dry the eyes, it also starts a vicious cycle. But when we look at a screen for extended periods, we tend not to blink. We blink more, which helps keep the eyes lubricated and comfortable. When we’re moving between meetings and offices and interacting with people face-to-face, it’s a simple fact that we move our eyes more. What are the implications for the eyes during this period of greatly increased screen time? ![]() Add to that our frequent use of phones and other digital devices, and you’ve got a recipe for unhappy - and possibly unhealthy - eyes. A recent study found that the average office worker spends 1,700 hours per year in front of a computer screen - and that was before many of us began working from home. ![]()
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