Look at any modern office building and the first thing you’ll notice is row after row of computers. Or perhaps you wouldn’t even notice them at all, since they are so commonplace they now blend into the furniture.
Most of us nowadays spend countless hours in front of computer screens, gaming devices, smartphones or e-readers. The average Brit spends around 10-14 hours a day in front of a screen.
We all know by now that this isn’t great for our eyes and yet we can’t seem to tear ourselves away. In cases where people work in offices, they simply have no choice.
Too much screen time can damage our eye-sight, our sleeping patterns and our productivity.
The damage is thought to stem from the blue light found in screens. This is a high-energy light that is seen in all sorts of devices. It over-stimulates our eyes, and is thought to suppress the production of melatonin in our bodies.
With blue-light affecting our sleep patterns, it’s common to see employees coming in tired, relying on caffeine to get through the day. This affects work productivity as well as health, so what can you as a business owner do about it?
Screen tech
Now that the problem is more widely-known, some are trying to limit its effects. Companies are now looking at way to reduce eye strain, through the use of blue light filters built into devices and screen protectors.
Ocushield is a company that develops screen protectors and is the only blue-light preventing product that is registered as a medical device.
But they certainly won’t be the last. Other companies are getting on board with this and our eyes could all benefit.
Founder and optometrist, Dhruvin Patel says: “Staring at screens can contribute towards eye strain, fatigue, headaches, dry eyes, and blurry vision. When your eyes are healthy, you sleep better, you feel better and you get more done. By taking care of your eyes you take care of so much more.”
What can you do now?
You could invest in screen protectors but there are also changes you can make to your company culture that would benefit employees.
Regular screen breaks should be encouraged and having an area where employees can go to get away from their screens is very beneficial. It’s too common a sight – to see employees sat at their desks eating lunch because there’s nowhere else to go.
Giving them the option to step away and limit screen time will benefit their health and productivity. It could also be helpful to alert or remind employees about the effects of using screens too much. This could encourage them to make changes at home as well for themselves and their families.
Have you considered screen protectors or other ways to improve employee eye-health? Please share your thoughts below.