Pop Magazine

Is the computer harmful to your eyes?

5 June 2015
Blog post supervised and approved by Dr. Michel Pop, ophthalmologist

A few tips that make all the difference. Many of us spend numerous hours in front of a computer, which frequently results in one or several rather unpleasant visual issues: itchy, dry, red eyes, blurry vision, double-vision and, of course, the occasional dreaded headache…

Contrary to what you might think, the answer is no. In the past 25 years, not a single study has managed to demonstrate that computer screens cause visual problems, such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia or cataracts. That said, after being exposed for more than four hours, certain irritating effects begin to appear. These problems are due to what is called eyestrain. In short, after a certain length of time, the computer fatigues your eyes, but it does not damage them.

How to relieve eyestrain?

A few simple, easy-to-apply tips will help you finish your day with “bright eyes” as they say.

  • Take a half-hour break from looking at your monitor every two hours. Use this time to make phone calls, have a meeting or organize your paperwork.
  • Position your monitor so that it is at eye level and at a distance of 60 cm. The farther you are from the screen (without it impeding your ability to read) the slower your eyes will fatigue.
  • Regularly turn your eyes away from the monitor and be mindful of blinking. Looking into the distance is restful for the eyes, and blinking prevents them from becoming dry. Working in front of a computer often requires sustained concentration, and we tend to blink less when we concentrate. Take a few seconds’ break every so often.
  • If you need to refer to documents while typing, take care to place them at the same distance as your screen. Ideally, place the documents on a document holder attached to or beside the monitor. This way, your eyes will not have to continually refocus and will fatigue less quickly.
  • If possible, position the back of your monitor at an angle to a window that avoids reflections that hamper your vision and force your eyes to constantly readjust. Also set the brightness and contrast of your screen screen to a level that’s optimally comfortable for your work environment.
  • Finally, avoid working in front of the computer in a dark room. Adjust the ambient lighting accordingly.