Man with a headache seating on a sofa

4 Tips to Ease Your Eyes & Headaches Working in Front of a Screen - Our Guide

Man with a headache seating on a sofa

As with the nature of many of today’s jobs, people find themselves sitting in front of a computer screen for hours and hours on end, grinding out work until everything’s done. However, this has caused people many problems, one of them being strained eyes and headaches. Have you ever experienced a headache after staring at your computer screen for an extended period? It might be because the screen is too bright, your workspace it too dim, or the colour of your screen is un-optimized for night-use. Something a laptop blue light filter has been suggested to help with. Of course, we suggest that you don't work in front of the screens for too long in poorly lit areas. But if you don't have a choice, here are a few tips that you can follow to reduce or even eliminate your headache.

1. Work in a Well-Lit Area

More often than not, your headache is caused by working in an area that's too dim or too bright. This is one of the most common causes of problems, especially for those who love to work at night. For night-owls, a bright screen in a dark area is a one-way ticket to strained eyes and an aching head. To counteract that, adjusting the brightness or the temperature of the screen to a warmer colour can reduce the strain.

For those working in areas that are too bright, reducing the surrounding lights, such as switching off some lights or closing the blinds, or even installing warm lights can help the eye feel at ease.

Why does warm lighting apply for dimly light or bright areas? Warm light (leaning towards a yellow hue) resembles natural lighting, which is easy on your eyes.

2. Clean Your Screen

Many people aren't aware of this, but a dirty screen makes displayed images more blurry, forcing the eyes to make out details, straining them in the process. To fix this, a simple wipe down with a cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth can make sure that the screen is dirt-free and the images are as sharp as it can be.

3. Take a Break

You might be tempted to grind out your word document for the next three hours straight, but that is not recommended. Not only will you burn out really fast, but your eyes are going to tire, and headache will set in, all hindering you from performing at your best.

With that in mind, take frequent breaks from staring at a screen. At a minimum, you have to take a break at least once every two hours or so. Grab a coffee, chit chat with a buddy, or find a snack. Whatever it is that you do, make sure that it is done without a screen, and that you're resting your eyes for at least 15 minutes.

4. Reduce the Glare

Glare can also cause your eyes to strain, which in turn leads to a headache. If you find that your windows are glaring, close them, or install dark window films. If your screen seems to glare, you can purchase and place anti-glare screens to reduce it.

By following the tips we've given you, you can work at your fullest potential without worrying about dealing with strained eyes and a headache. If you do not remember or apply any of the above tips, at least follow the 20-20-20 rule. Take the 20-second break every 20 minutes, staring at an object 20 feet away. Now, grab a coffee after reading this article. Your eyes will thank you.

Ocushield offers a wide range of blue light protection solutions for you and your loved ones. Get in touch with us to see how we can help you.

How we reviewed this article:

Ocushield has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version
October 21, 2020

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published