As a blogger who also works from home for an affiliate management agency, I stare at a computer for a lot of hours daily. Lately, I have been searching for ways to show how you can protect your eyes while you are working on a computer for several hours a day.

How do you protect your eyes when working online?

As many people bask in the joys and comforts that come with working at home, the arrangement has its share of challenges. The work from home setup means that many have to think of ways to stay fit and healthy despite being indoors for long hours every day. The arrangement also means that you have to be behind your screen for many hours, which can adversely affect your eyes.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES WHEN WORKING ONLINE

Practice the 20-20-20 Rule

When concentrating on work, hours may pass by without realizing how much time you have spent staring at the screen. To avoid this, make sure you blink and give your eyes a break. The 20 20 20 rule means that you work for 20 minutes, then take 20 seconds to break to look or stare at an object 20 feet away. You will give your eyes the needed break and blink more. Arguably, it takes 20 seconds for your eyes to relax and reset their focus.

Stay Hydrated

You may want to give your eyes a break but having a lot of work to do on your screen takes the priority to a point you may even forget to blink often. This may lead to dry, tired, and red eyes. To make your eyes look fresh and get the moisture they need, use a quality moisturizer, which will keep them hydrated and fresh. An eye moisturizer may also reduce or stop itchiness and puffiness.

Keep the Right Distance from the Screen

When the screen is too close or too far away from your eyes, you may strain when focusing. When the screen is near, the light may be too intense for your eyes, while you may have to strain a lot to focus when far. Keep it 20 to 40 inches away from the eyes.

Utilize Glasses that Have Blue Light Filter

A few months ago I had to get new glasses because mine broke. I decided it was time to update and upgrade my glasses. Since I'm at the computer longer now, I wanted glasses that were going to filter out the blue light. When you protect your eyes from high-energy visible blue light, you keep your eyes healthier, longer.

Prolonged exposure to high-energy visible (HEV) blue light can lead to eye strain and blurred vision. Studies have shown that it may also damage the retinal cells which can lead to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration leads to vision loss over time.

Avoid Reflection Glare

If your workstation is near a window, you will be exposed to a lot of reflected light, which can damage your eyes. Overhead light from bulbs can also reflect on your work screen, damaging your eyes. To avoid this, make sure there is no interference from outside light. If possible, close the blinds and dim overhead lights. Using an anti-glare on your screen can protect your eyes from the reflection.

Take Care of your General Health

Make sure to use quality products on your face and eyes to avoid damaging your skin or irritating the eyes. As much as you want to look beautiful and young, make sure to use products that are gentle to your overall body. Choose products that are quality guaranteed. You can go shopping for matte eyeliner because it will not only give you the beautiful and youthful look you desire, but it will protect your eyes from glare.

Also, remember to have regular eye clinics even when your eyes feel okay. For your peace of mind and early detection of possible eye problems, have your eyes checked regularly. Additionally, clear all your work and stay away from the computer or any screen one hour to bedtime. You will sleep better, making sure your eyes are well-rested and ready for more work the following day.