How working in front of the screen stresses the eyes

A typical day in the office: blogging, reading emails, checking Excel spreadsheets, creating concepts and more.

Anyone who spends a lot of time every day concentrating on a computer or staring at a tablet or smartphone for hours often struggles with tired eyes by the afternoon.

Constantly looking at the screen reduces the frequency of blinking. We normally blink about 15 times a minute, but when we're using a laptop or similar, the frequency drops to three or four times.

This means that the tear film is no longer distributed sufficiently and tears more quickly – the surface of the eye dries out.

Computer work and dry indoor climate

In addition to working on the computer, dry air in the room and increased visual strain cause pure stress for our eyes. They react with redness, burning, scratching or an unpleasant foreign body sensation.

This is known as “office eye syndrome”. Since the symptoms mentioned are very stressful and can also limit work performance, targeted relief is required.

For effective relief of symptoms and also for long-term treatment, over-the-counter tear substitutes containing hyaluronic acid, such as Vismed eye drops, have proven to be particularly effective.

Clinical studies have shown that they form a long-lasting protective film on the surface of the eye and stabilize the tear film.

This can significantly reduce the discomfort for at least two hours. It also helps to place the screen a little lower than eye level so that your gaze is directed slightly downwards.

The ideal distance from the screen is at least 50 to 60 centimeters.

tips for recovery

In addition, regular ventilation is essential: the best thing to do is to open the window wide for a few minutes to improve the indoor climate. You should also be careful of drafts from the air conditioning.

There are further tips and information at hilfe-bei-trockenen-augen.de. For a little relaxation now and then, office workers can let their gaze wander into the distance more often and consciously blink frequently.

As a reminder, simply attach a small sticker to the screen – and bat your eyelids a few times every time you look at it.

“Palming” provides pure eye wellness: rub your palms together and then place them lightly on your closed eyes – for soothing darkness, warmth and relaxation.

© Photos: IgorVetushko, de.depositphotos.com / Source: djd