Display Screen Equipment Training Protects Eyes
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 stipulates that employees must have €adequate health and safety training in the use of any workstation upon which he may be required to work€. It is also very clear about employers' responsibilities regarding the provision of eye tests and corrective measures.
But does using a computer damage eyesight? Much research has been done into this question, but no evidence has been found to prove that it does. The misunderstanding may arise from the fact that spending so much time focusing on words, images, etc can raise awareness of pre-existing eye conditions. Eyestrain, headaches and dry eyes can, however, be caused by extended computer use.
Poor lighting can also lead to eyestrain and headaches. Improperly low lighting and excessive glare can both cause problems, as your eyes struggle to compensate. Lighting should be appropriate for all tasks - for example reading the screen, typing, writing on paper and reading printed text. There should never be any bright, unshielded light directly in the eyes. An ideal position for the screen is at a right angle to the light.
Added to this, the quality of the display and the software can easily increase eyestrain, which may lead to headaches and migraine. Making sure your screen is properly adjusted is a quick but important way to save you eyestrain and headaches. The image should be focused and properly contrasted; an irregular colour balance can cause as many problems as a constant flicker.
Remember that your eye has muscles just like any other part of the body. Your arms will start to ache if you hold heavy shopping bags for a long time, and so your eyes will get tired if you focus on the same spot for so long. Eye exercises such as re-focussing on the most distance object for 20 seconds every 20 minutes will help. Blinking is important, it lubricates the eyes and staring at a fixed point - the screen - reduces blink rate, making eyes feel dry and gritty. To make matters worse a typical office tends to be a relatively dry environment, due to air conditioning and the heat generated by electrical equipment.
If you do experience any difficulties with your eyes or eyesight, report it to your employers immediately. Eyesight is one of the chief concerns of health and safety and your employers have a basic responsibility to safeguard it. Remember computer screens are display screen EQUIPMENT, and like any piece of equipment thye need to be handle dproperly if you are to avoid injury. Display Screen Equipment training is best conducted at one's own work station, so one can immediately see - and make ammendments to - those things which are causing problems.
But does using a computer damage eyesight? Much research has been done into this question, but no evidence has been found to prove that it does. The misunderstanding may arise from the fact that spending so much time focusing on words, images, etc can raise awareness of pre-existing eye conditions. Eyestrain, headaches and dry eyes can, however, be caused by extended computer use.
Poor lighting can also lead to eyestrain and headaches. Improperly low lighting and excessive glare can both cause problems, as your eyes struggle to compensate. Lighting should be appropriate for all tasks - for example reading the screen, typing, writing on paper and reading printed text. There should never be any bright, unshielded light directly in the eyes. An ideal position for the screen is at a right angle to the light.
Added to this, the quality of the display and the software can easily increase eyestrain, which may lead to headaches and migraine. Making sure your screen is properly adjusted is a quick but important way to save you eyestrain and headaches. The image should be focused and properly contrasted; an irregular colour balance can cause as many problems as a constant flicker.
Remember that your eye has muscles just like any other part of the body. Your arms will start to ache if you hold heavy shopping bags for a long time, and so your eyes will get tired if you focus on the same spot for so long. Eye exercises such as re-focussing on the most distance object for 20 seconds every 20 minutes will help. Blinking is important, it lubricates the eyes and staring at a fixed point - the screen - reduces blink rate, making eyes feel dry and gritty. To make matters worse a typical office tends to be a relatively dry environment, due to air conditioning and the heat generated by electrical equipment.
If you do experience any difficulties with your eyes or eyesight, report it to your employers immediately. Eyesight is one of the chief concerns of health and safety and your employers have a basic responsibility to safeguard it. Remember computer screens are display screen EQUIPMENT, and like any piece of equipment thye need to be handle dproperly if you are to avoid injury. Display Screen Equipment training is best conducted at one's own work station, so one can immediately see - and make ammendments to - those things which are causing problems.
