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EYE STRAIN AND TESTS

Eyestrain means different things to different people. It can be experienced as burning, tightness, sharp pains, dull pains, watering, blurring, double vision, headaches, and other sensations, depending on the person. If you have any eye discomfort caused by viewing something, you can call it eyestrain. If you experience any symptoms that you may consider to be related to eye strain, you should request an eye test. Eyes are strained more by close viewing than by distant viewing. The ‘right’ height and distance for computer monitors is therefore a factor in eye strain (see information sheet on screens). Other factors are outlined opposite but also consider dryness, partly because of the air-conditioned office and partly because the eyes unconsciously blink less when staring at a screen – consider use of eye drops. Obtaining a company eye test Employees are normally entitled to claim the cost of a standard eye test every 2 years. However, they are also entitled to claim if they experience visual difficulties in the course of their work or they are specifically advised by an optician / medical practitioner that they require an eye test more frequently. See full guidelines here

Factors contributing to eye strain

• Glare (direct and reflected)

• The amount of light or luminance (brightness).

• Contrast between what is being looked at and its immediate environment.

• The distance between the eye and the screen and document.

• The readability of the screen and document.

• The worker’s vision and corrective lenses