6 ways to protect your visual health while working from home

Are we doing enough to protect the visual health of ourselves and our loved ones? It’s important to provide the best light for eyes when reading, and to take time away from screens. Read on for details of these and other eye tips! 

Whether you will be continuing to work from home fully or partially as we embrace a “new normal” post-pandemic, it is critical that your home workstation protects one of your most important assets in the long term: your eyes. 

Here are six changes you can make at home to make a difference to your visual health.

#1 Provide the best light for eyes

Proper room lighting is essential for a conducive working environment, and light quality is a critical feature that determines your eye comfort level. Most of us may not be fully conscious of the quality of the lights installed in our house; and we may not be making the right decisions that are pivotal to eye health. 

If you’re looking to make things better, start by choosing LED lights. Philips’ EyeComfort lighting range checks every important consideration on the list of eye comfort criteria; these include flicker, glare, stroboscopic effect, photobiological safety, dimmability, tuning and colour rendering. Remember, improving the comfort of your eyes could be as simple as switching to an LED light bulb. 

#2 Add lights where they matter

One way to avoid the perils of bad lighting and screen glare is to invest in a good desk lamp. You can mitigate symptoms of eye strain by reducing the contrast between your screen and the dimness surrounding it. Using advanced optical technologies and honeycomb lenses, the Philips RobotPlus Desk Lamp enhances visibility and reduces harmful glare, protecting and comforting your eyes at the same time. You can get the lamp at most electronics and home DIY stores.

#3 Stick to a balanced diet

Nourishment starts from eating foods from natural sources, such as fruit and fresh vegetables. They contain high elements of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, all of which are beneficial to eye health. A diet consisting of omega-3 fatty acids – found in salmon and nuts, for example – may reduce your risk of developing eye diseases such as macular degeneration. It takes discipline to instil healthy eating habits but the pandemic has highlighted that health is indeed wealth.

#4 Adopt the ‘20-20-20’ rule

To maintain good visual health while working, it is important to take regular breaks using the golden “20-20-20” rule. For every 20 minutes that you’re on a digital device, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Take this opportunity to move around the home, stretch the muscles on your neck, shoulder and back. Keeping active not only enhances your vision but also promotes appropriate posture and blood circulation throughout the body.

#5 Create technology-free areas in your home

Living in the digital age requires us to look at screens all day. Creating technology-free areas in certain parts of your home can help improve your eye health and overall wellbeing. At the end of a working day, completely disengage from the distractions of social media. Instead, engage in healthier hobbies such as reading a book or spending quality time with your family. Remember, if the majority of your day is spent looking on the computer, scrolling your phone until you fall asleep will strain your vision even further.

#6 Get regular eye check-ups

Regular eye tests are one of the most efficient instruments for optimal eye care. These checks will help to keep your eyeglasses or contact lens prescriptions up-to-date, keeping your vision in check. The saying that prevention is better than cure has never been more accurate. For instance, glaucoma is an asymptomatic eye illness, and the odds of saving your eyesight and reducing glaucoma blindness are considerably improved with early detection and treatment.

Your eyes are so important. Taking the time to make minor adjustments in your work environment at home will go a long way in helping you to live your life to the fullest, healthily and happily. 

This is a contributed article by Signify Singapore, a world leader in lighting.

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