7 Work From Home Essentialsto Optimize Your Vision
Home Office Essentials to Improve Your Work-From-Home Experience
Working from home sounds like a dream for some, while others are still struggling with makeshift home office setups and finding the balance between their office and home life. We’re here to help you organize your space with work-from-home essentials to reduce eye strain and fatigue.
Our Visionworks team has compiled a list of work-from-home essentials and desk setup tips to make your work environment more comfortable. Help give your eyes the TLC they need to keep you seeing and feeling your best. Here are seven important tools for your home office and how to use them to improve your eye health and work day.
1. A Desk Setup That Encourages Good Posture
It’s time to invest in a proper desk setup for your home office. Staying organized and sitting up straight while working at the coffee table is hard. Poor posture at work can lead to back pain, headaches, and eye strain.
Remember the following tips when shopping for and setting up your new desk.
- Choose the proper desk height. Most desks have an average height of 29-30 inches. This is fine if you are between 5’10” and 6’. Outside of that range, you probably need to make adjustments. There are ways to calculate a good desk height, but in the end, you must balance what feels good and how it compares with the height of your desk chair. You might even want to try investing in an adjustable standing desk to keep yourself feeling good throughout the day.
- Go deep. Your desk should be between 48” and 60” deep so your monitor can sit between 20” and 30” away from your face. If you use a widescreen or multiple monitors, position your screen(s) 25-30 inches away to accommodate a wider vision range.
2. A Chair That Sits at the Right Height
A high-quality desk chair will perfectly complement your new work desk. Studies show that chairs that don't provide lumbar and pelvic support can contribute to poor posture. Poor posture can be a source of headaches and strains your eyes, neck, and back muscles. Office chairs that provide the necessary support can reduce these symptoms.
Match your chair height to your desk height. Ideally, your arms can rest on the desk surface or the chair’s arms to form a 90-degree to 110-degree angle. You want to create the same angle with both your feet and your back. Make sure your feet are touching the floor and your back is resting on the chair back. If you catch yourself leaning forward or straining to reach your keyboard, it’s time to adjust.
3. Monitor Stands That Put Your Screens at Just the Right Place
Once your desk and chair are situated, let's position your monitor. As previously mentioned, your monitor should be at least 20” away from your face and slightly below your normal eye level. Monitor stands are available that offer both height and angle adjustments to help you achieve the perfect setup.
Use an adjustable monitor stand to position your natural vision line at the top third of your screen rather than the middle. When your eyes have to constantly look up to read your tabs, website addresses and page content, you experience more eye strain and fatigue. A downward line of sight creates less stress for your eyes and neck.
4. Computer Screens/Monitors With Adjustable Lighting Options
If you are still using an older monitor, it’s time for an upgrade to reduce screen flickering and optimize visual support. Ideally, you can adjust your monitor to these optometrist-recommended settings:
- Brightness: Match the level of light in the room. Hold a piece of printer paper up to your monitor and adjust the settings to match the color you see on the paper.
- Color Temperature: You can also match the color temperature of your work area to adjust for warmer or brighter lighting.
- Contrast: Increase the contrast to around 60%-70% for sharp images.
- Dark Mode: Use night or dark mode settings when the sun goes down.
- Font Size: Zoom in. Find out what font size you can comfortably see on a printed paper held at arm's length, then set your computer font to three times larger.
5. Desk Lighting
Ensure you have proper lighting for everything you do at your desk, but be aware that excessive light can exhaust your eyes.
- Avoid fluorescent lights.
- Reduce exterior light.
- Position your computer screen next to any windows, not in front of or behind them.
- Adjust for screen glare so lighting accessories do not reflect back to you.
6. Work Day Scheduling Software with Timers
It may seem unnecessary, but schedules can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. Along with keeping your work day and assigned tasks on track, these apps and software can keep your eye health on track. Here’s how to use timers for eye health.
20-20-20 Timing
Visionworks recommends a 20-20-20 approach to your day for eye support and mental clarity. Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds to focus on something 20 feet away.
Scheduled Breaks
Schedule 10-minute breaks throughout the day to stretch your body and your eyes. Walk away from your computer and other electronic devices. Allow your eyes to roam freely in all directions while you energize your mind and body. These breaks are also a good time to treat any signs of dry eyes. Blink more or apply hydrating eye drops to keep your eyes in top shape.
7. Glasses Ready for Long Hours at a Screen
Yearly eye exams are a valuable investment. Visit your optometrist often and discuss your vision needs with them for proper fittings and recommendations.
The blue light our computer and electronic screens cast can also lead to Computer Vision Syndrome with eye strain, fatigue, headaches, and even retina damage. Luckily, blue-light filtering lenses can filter a portion of blue light in the 400–455 nm range.
Visionworks Smart Screen lenses are designed to filter high-energy visible (HEV) light emitted by digital screens and natural sources.
Smart Screen lenses are available with or without a prescription to fit your vision needs precisely. They also offer optional anti-glare capabilities which may reduce screen glare and reflections depending on the coating used. Smart Screen glasses can become your new favorite work-from-home accessory with a purpose.
Buy Smart Screen Lenses at Visionworks. No worries. Visionworks offers a 100-day guarantee!
Prioritize Your Vision
Prioritize your vision to make your work life comfortable and productive. Schedule an eye exam through Visionworks today!
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Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
