Prevent eye strain at work

In recent decades, especially related to lifestyle habits and the way of working, fatigue or eye strain has become a frequent problem. Thus the appearance of constitutes a frequent reason in medical consultations. The medical term for eye fatigue is asthenopia.

Asthenopia is the eye's response to excessive muscular effort over a long period of time. It is characterized by the following manifestations:

• Burning and stinging in the eyes, redness, watery eye and increased sensitivity.
• Visual problems, that is, difficulty in focusing, vision of spots in the visual field, blurred vision, photophobia (sensitivity to light), etc ...
• Other accompanying symptoms that may appear related to this problem include headache, dizziness, contracture and neck pain, among others.

In most cases these symptoms are related to inappropriate habits and excessive "eye work."

Factors related to the appearance of fatigue include visual concentration on an object for a long time (eg the computer screen), poor lighting and the passage from natural light to artificial light, flashes, oscillations and movements of images on a screen .

The described annoyances usually appear at the end of the day or the working day, especially if they have carried out activities such as reading, studying for a long time, watching television a lot, driving, working in smoky environments, sewing or working in front of the computer.

Always rule out other responsible ophthalmological problems that can be confused with eye fatigue. For this reason, an ophthalmologist must be consulted to rule out other possible diseases. Remember that it includes an early diagnosis of glaucoma, as well as special prices for myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and presbyopia surgery.

Once other eye diseases that require specific treatment or the need for visual correction with glasses or contact lenses have been ruled out, eye care and prevention are the main measures to prevent this problem from appearing or to reduce its intensity.

Recommendations to follow ...

• Optimize the illumination of the visual field and the usual workplace.
• Take periodic breaks from visual activity (for example, rest 5-10 minutes every hour). It is also advisable to get up from the site so as not to keep your eyes fixed.
• Keep the eyes lubricated (blink) to avoid dryness.
• Computer screen protection measures (such as screen filters).
• Sit properly and at the appropriate distance and height (half a meter from the screen already at eye level).
• All work materials should be placed as close to the screen as possible to minimize head and eye movements as well as focus shifts.
• Perform a series of simple eye exercises. These exercises should be done without glasses or contact lenses, with short breaks and blinks between each exercise.

EXAMPLE OF EXERCISES

Blinks: Observe and feel 10 complete blinks (close, open, close….) As if it were a theater curtain that goes down and up.

Eye movements looking at a finger, without moving the head. The movements can be:

• Horizontal at eye level, follow the finger with the gaze from right to left and vice versa, rest, blinks.
• Vertical on the midline of the face, look at the finger moving it towards the sky to the maximum, blink, then towards the ground, blink, and can be repeated 1 or 2 more times.
• Circular: Draw with your gaze 3 large circles to the right and 3 to the left, rest, blinks. (Try to have the arm straight and without tension).

Strong blinking: Maximum contraction of the eyelids, squeezing the eyes, the fists and all the muscles of the face. Then open your eyes, fists and stretch your face by opening your mouth. Repeat 5 times. Then always blink quickly.

Rapid paraglides: such as rapid butterfly flaps for 5/7 seconds. When finished, close your eyes and listen for a few moments.