How to Work From Home Without Damaging Your Eyes

Recently, many companies have allowed employees to work from home to reduce the risk of infection during travel and gatherings at the workplace. Even activities like eating and socializing with friends have shifted to online formats. Because of this, we may spend more time in front of computer and smartphone screens, which are sources of blue light that affect the eyes. Today, Dr. Surak Pattanakanok, a specialist in cataract and glaucoma at Phyathai Nawamin Hospital, will provide recommendations on how to use devices that emit excessive blue light affecting our eyes.

How Does Blue Light Affect Us?

1. Blue light is a factor that causes macular degeneration because the light waves generate free radicals, increasing the risk of macular degeneration.
2. It causes eye strain, burning sensation, dry eyes, and blurred vision.

How to Work from Home Without Damaging Your Eyes

In a discussion with Dr. Surak Pattanakanok, a glaucoma specialist at Phyathai Nawamin Hospital, about how to prevent and care for the eyes from “blue light,” the doctor gave the following advice for using mobile phones and computers:

1. Take breaks from looking at the screen periodically by looking away about 20 seconds at a distance from your sitting area to rest your eyes.
2. The device should be about an arm’s length away from your eyes, and the screen should be adjusted slightly below eye level.
3. The font size should be adjusted to a comfortable reading size to reduce eye muscle strain and help avoid excessive squinting.
4. Adjust the screen brightness to a comfortable level to ease eye strain. Notice if you need to squint when looking at a screen that is too bright for a long time.
5. Use a screen filter or wear glasses that block blue light, as this helps reduce eye strain and allows you to look at the screen longer.

“Currently, as our lifestyle changes and working from home requires us to use these technological devices more frequently or for longer periods, we should use them properly and for an appropriate amount of time to prevent our eyes from deteriorating quickly or developing other problems.”