Does the computer impair vision. Gymnastics for the eyes. Symptoms of the negative impact of the computer on human vision

Dryness, irritation, tearing of the eyes, headaches are typical signs of the harmful effects of a computer on a person's visual apparatus. More and more patients with these symptoms seek help from ophthalmologists. These are people of different ages suffering from pathologies of vision. Why does a prestigious office job turn into eye problems? Is it always the computer's fault? What can be done to minimize its impact on the visual apparatus?

Progress as a threat to health

When a person of intellectual work has the first eye problems, they should be taken seriously. They will not disappear on their own, but will only grow.

The first symptoms of excessive load on the visual apparatus are asthenopic complications, which include tearfulness, redness, dryness, burning, increased sensitivity to light, and fatigue. Eyes hurt on pressure. There are also pains in the shoulders, back, neck. Fatigue leads to the fact that a person begins to lose visual acuity. The reason for this is the unidirectionality of the eyes when working behind the monitor screen. In fact, this is a static load on them. It leads to the formation of visual skills that are opposite to natural ones. After all, historically, the human visual apparatus is designed to look into the distance, in different directions. This is necessary for orientation in space, doing work with your hands, searching for food. Being in natural movement, the eyes change their accommodation, rebuild from far vision to near vision, and adapt to the changing brightness of the illumination of space. And when a person works at a computer, the eyes look, in fact, at one point, at the same distance, the gaze remains motionless for a long time, the field of vision narrows. The eyelids do not blink, which means that they are not wetted with tear fluid. By the way, with natural vision, blinking occurs at a frequency of 25 times per minute, and when working at the monitor screen - 2-3 times per minute. The reduction in blinking causes the thin mucous membrane to dry out, which ophthalmologists call dry eye syndrome. It is manifested by dryness, irritation of the conjunctiva, cornea, redness. An additional load on the eyes arises because the vision is directed to the illuminated surface of the screen, that is, directly to the light source. Reduced optical quality of vision. And it is also worth considering the fact that the monitor is surrounded by an electromagnetic field. This means that charged dust particles can settle on the cornea.

Such a negative impact is especially dangerous for children's eyes. In many children, vision is already slightly reduced, and the computer only aggravates the condition.

Hygiene of vision when working at a computer

So, ophthalmologists advise workers in the intellectual sphere to simply learn how to take care of their visual apparatus. And the simplest recommendation is to limit your stay at the monitor. Of course, it is very difficult to do this at work. But you can take at least a minute breaks. In this case, it is desirable to close your eyes, relax them completely. You can even conduct telephone conversations with your eyes closed.

Also, eye gymnastics will become an assistant in the fight for healthier vision. It also doesn't take much time to complete. Closing your eyes, blinking, turning left and right - everything is quite simple.

If a teenager works at a computer, and this is related to his educational activities, then we can recommend choosing a good monitor (with high resolution) for this, protecting your eyes with glasses, and strictly dosing loads. For example, you can put an hourglass on the table so that after a certain time the child takes a break and gets up and moves. Special eye drops will help protect the mucous membrane of the eyes from drying out. They reduce the negative effects of rare blinking, prevent redness, fatigue, itching. Ophthalmologists also strongly recommend that you monitor the distance from the eyes to the monitor. It should not be less than 70 centimeters, that is, approximately this is the length of the arm extended forward. This is especially true for teenagers.

Also, for people whose work is related to computer technology, it is very important to take special eye vitamins or blueberry preparations from time to time. They help maintain good visual acuity, supply the eyes with useful nutrients.

People began to see worse. According to a study by the famous British oculist David Allambie, the number of myopic people has increased by 35% compared to 1997, when smartphones were not in sight, and mobile phones were just beginning to come into use. If the progression continues, by 2035 more than half of the world's people (55%) will have low vision.

Thanks to Allambie and his experiments, a special term even appeared - screen myopia.

Is vision really bad?

results these studies of British scientists can be trusted - confirm the experts of the Russian Institute of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Their report says that reading from a small screen, and even in an uncomfortable position and in poor lighting, makes eyesight many times faster than, say, reading a paper book at home in bed.

“Under attack” are mainly those users who, with the help of gadgets, brighten up trips in the subway, trains, and fixed-route taxis. Vibration, changing lighted and dark sections of the tunnel, swaying cars - all this makes it difficult to focus your eyes and makes you blink less often. In addition to visual impairment, the use of devices in transport can cause headaches and even nausea.

Are smartphones as harmful as computers?

No, smartphones and 7-inch tablets are much more damaging to vision than computers. Of course, the reason lies in the diagonal of the screen. To see what written on a tiny smartphone display, you have to bring the device too close to your eyes, and this negatively affects the concentration of vision and contributes to the destruction macula - part of the eye that allows a person to see fine details.

Are all phones equally harmful?

Renowned ophthalmologist Andrew Hepford warns that violet and blue hues cause the most damage to the eyes. From this point of view, it is worth "fearing" first of all AMOLED displays, which are known for the uneven brightness of colors and the predominance of purple.

AMOLED displays have been installed on Samsung devices for a long time, and their acidity(overly intense, implausible brightness) has become the talk of the town. It is clear that this characteristic also affects the eyes not in the best way.

How to use the gadget, so as not to plant vision?

There are many recommendations about this, but the main thing to keep an eye on is the distance from the smartphone to the eyes. A curious experiment organized by the American " Journal of Optometry and Vision Science» (« Journal of Optometry and Vision Science”) showed that out of 129 participants in the experiment, none of them kept the gadget at the required distance. People bring mobile devices to their faces, on average, 4-6 cm closer than allowed.

How far should you keep your smartphone?

In a publication of the same Journal» stated the rule « 1 – 2 – 10 ”, which everyone who wants to stay with good eyesight should follow. The rule says: The smartphone screen must be placed 1 foot (30 cm) from the face, the computer monitor must be 2 feet (60 cm), the blue screen of the TV must be 10 feet (3 m).

Exercise "20-20-20" - what is it about?

« 20-20-20 "- a well-known exercise recommended by ophthalmologists and allowing you not to overload your eyes when working with a smartphone or computer. Every 20 minutes of operation, take your eyes off the monitor and focus for 20 seconds on a point approximately 6 meters (20 feet) away. This will be enough time for the eyes to get a well-deserved rest.

Is it possible to set the phone so that the vision does not sit down?

By adjusting the gadget settings, you can reduce the negative impact on vision. Primarily set a large enough font, so that the text on the screen is clearly visible from a distance of 30 cm. Android smartphones have fonts like “ Large" and " Huge". On the iPhone, the size of the letters is adjusted by the slider, which can be found in the " Text size» in the main settings.

Also you need to adjust the brightness. You need to proceed from how well the room is lit. Remember: when you had to look at an overly bright display in the dark, you felt physical pain. That's a lot of stress on the eyes! iPhone owners are advised to use the " auto brightness" (In chapter " Wallpaper and brightness"Settings) - it automatically adjusts the brightness of the display to external conditions and copes with it with a bang."

Adjust the gadget so that the vision does not sit down generally, will not succeed - for this you will have to completely abandon the use of mobile devices.

Is it possible to save vision thanks to mobile accessories?

Accessories can help too. When using a smartphone whose screen is glare, the user needs to be prepared for the fact that vision problems will not take long. Even small reflections lead to eye strain. Getting rid of glare is easy - you need to stick a matte film on the screen. This accessory is inexpensive and also durable. As a bonus, the matte film will protect the display from scratches and fingerprints.

Another useful tool is contact lenses with HD optics. Lenses reduce eye strain even when the user is reading from a mobile device in poor light or with regular light changes. Lenses with high-definition optics from the company are widely represented on the Russian market. Bausch & Lomb.

Proper nutrition - an assistant to an advanced user?

Vitamin A has a positive effect on vision. It is found in large quantities in fish, blueberries, carrots, eggs - these are the foods that should be emphasized in the diet of a person who suffers from "gadget addiction". However, it is important to remember that eating well is not enough to keep your eyesight. It has been calculated: in order to compensate for the damage that gadgets cause to the eyes, a person needs to eat 5-6 kg of carrots every day.

Should I be worried about my vision if I wear lenses or glasses?

Constant "talking" with a smartphone also has a negative impact on the vision of people who use contact lenses or wear glasses. If, for example, a person is forced to constantly “sit” on a smartphone or at a computer due to the duty of work, he is recommended to contact an ophthalmologist. The doctor will help you choose optics, taking into account the state of eye health and professional activity of a person.

There are several recommendations for those who cannot imagine a trip to the subway or a fixed-route taxi without reading. First of all, such people should think about purchasing an e-book with technology e-ink. Such books do not have backlighting, their pages are visually similar to ordinary paper ones, the font size can be adjusted as you like - thanks to this, the negative impact on vision is minimal. Plus e-books e-ink is a long battery life - since energy is spent only on turning pages, the device can do without recharging for a whole month. Minus - high cost: e-books have recently risen in price all in all, and device e-ink will cost the buyer about 10 thousand rubles.

Paper literature should not be discounted either. When reading text from paper, the eyes strain much less than when concentrating on a tiny smartphone screen - therefore, the negative impact is lower. Objection what to buy real books are expensive, usually unreasonable. Business literature can really cost a pretty penny; art is sold in online stores Ozone and Book24 practically for nothing. Libraries have not been canceled either - here you can borrow a book for free.

In just some 15 - 20 years, personal computers have become so firmly established in our lives that it is already impossible to imagine it without them. How does this new "habitat" affect the vision of a child and an adult? What awaits him in the future? What should be done to save vision? These questions of our correspondent were answered by ophthalmologist Elena Ivanova, candidate of medical sciences, assistant to the general director for medical work of Federal State Institution "IRTC "Eye Microsurgery" named after Academician S. N. Fedorov of Rosmedtekhnologii."

Elena Vladimirovna, there is an opinion that the computer causes great harm, which nevertheless needs to be put up with. What do ophthalmologists say about this?

Yes, there are many myths around computers. And many of them it is time to debunk.

For example - that harmful radiation comes from a computer. These were the first computers to have cathode ray tube monitors. That's from them really came from a fairly strong electromagnetic radiation. But scientists eventually came to the conclusion that it is not so dangerous and does not produce a special effect on humans. And modern monitors are liquid crystal, there is no harmful radiation from them at all. You just need to choose the right brightness and contrast of the screen. The clearer the picture, the better the font, the better the text is designed (with paragraphs, highlighted headings), the easier it is for the eye to perceive these “pictures”.

Does this mean that for the sake of health you need to buy the highest quality and most expensive equipment?

If you buy a normal flat monitor, it will be absolutely safe. You don't have to buy the most expensive one. It is much more important, as I said, to set the settings - for example, so that the screen resolution matches the technical resolution of the monitor. If the image is of high quality, then the eye "doesn't care" whether you are working on a computer or reading a book.

At-risk groups

Did I understand you correctly that there is no connection between computer work and vision loss?

There is such a dependence, but it manifests itself individually. In an adult, when working at a computer for a long time, when he does not take breaks, various unpleasant sensations may appear, with which he comes to the doctor. This may be visual fatigue, decreased vision, irritation, redness, fog and a veil before the eyes. In children and adolescents, prolonged “sitting” in front of a monitor screen can lead to the onset and progression of myopia. By nature, our eyes are more designed to look into the distance, and the load “near” is what modern life imposes on us.

Children and young people who are at risk - and these are those who have a hereditary predisposition to myopia - of course, it is better not to sit at the computer for a long time, but to walk more on the street, where the eye has much to "look into the distance." But if you can’t do without a computer, the child needs to take a break every twenty minutes and regularly do special exercises for the eyes. Then the child will leave school with a normal certificate and good eyesight. After all, most often vision loss is in high school.

That is, any strain of vision, even if it is not connected with a computer, can lead to myopia?

There is such a thing as "false myopia". The child complains that his vision has become worse, he is taken to the doctor. The examination shows that he needs glasses with an optical power of -1.0 diopters. He is given a special drug that dilates the pupil and relaxes the ciliary muscle, which was contracted due to overexertion, and the spasm is relieved. And again check visual acuity. And if it turns out that he has one hundred percent, then it was a spasm of accommodation, or the so-called "false myopia." In no case should such children overstrain their eyes: sit at a computer and books for a long time. If the spasm progresses, this can already lead to true myopia.

False myopia can develop against the background of the true one. For example, a child who needs to pick up glasses allegedly minus five. We dilate his pupil, look, and it turns out that he has only minus three. And those minus two are “false myopia” caused by a spasm, which arose from overexertion.

And what about the vision of Russian students? They do not part with computers, mobile phones, through which they access the Internet ...

We are often approached by young people who really spend a lot of time at computers. In them, we find a violation in the nutrition of the retina, which must be treated with a laser, otherwise retinal detachment may occur. The most unpleasant thing is that the detachment does not manifest itself for the time being, and only a specialist can detect this problem during the examination. Therefore, it is necessary to visit an ophthalmologist at least once every two years.

Eyes "dry"

If modern computers are safe in themselves, then why are the eyes tired and sore after long work?

When a person sits at a computer for several hours in a row, the eyes look at the same objects at a very close distance for a long time, practically without movement. And the ciliary muscle, which is responsible for accommodation (the ability of the eye to clearly see objects at various distances), gets tired. This muscle, which holds the crystal of the eye, is tense when a person looks at something close, and relaxed when he looks far away.

When a person looks at a computer, his gaze seems to be directed slightly upwards, and when, for example, reading a book, downwards. When a person looks straight, he blinks less often, respectively, the eye dries out due to the fact that it is less moistened. Therefore, many computer users suffer from "dry eye syndrome".

So you have to force yourself to blink more often?

Yes, and also often break away from the monitor, look into the distance and just close your eyes from time to time.

Tell us more about dry eye syndrome.

It is connected with the fact that the quality of the tear deteriorates in a person, sometimes the amount of tear fluid. And very often in young people the body compensates for the poor quality of tears with quantity. Therefore, the first sign of the “dry eye syndrome” is tears in the wind, in the light, in response to any irritants. More often this syndrome affects young people who spend a lot of time at the computer. Complaints begin about discomfort in the eyes, redness, a desire to blink, moisten the eyes. In this case, it is necessary to consult an ophthalmologist who will prescribe the necessary drugs. It is enough for someone to drip them several times, someone needs them all the time - this largely depends on the lifestyle that a person leads.

Drops for dry eyes

What medications are commonly used to treat dry eye?

Tear replacement therapy drugs are prescribed - today they are widespread. They are more liquid and more viscous, gel-like (these last longer on the eyes). Tear substitutes differ in the presence or absence of preservatives in their composition. Usually, doctors advise buying without preservatives, because the preservative itself can aggravate the “dry eye syndrome”. It is undesirable to use drugs with preservatives if a person wears contact lenses. The task of such drops is to restore the quality of the tear, the acid-base balance and the tear film, so that the person does not experience discomfort. Most often they are used three times a day, such drugs are selected individually - as prescribed by an ophthalmologist.

As a rule, drops with a vasoconstrictive effect are advertised there. We do not recommend or prescribe such drugs. They give only visible relief - they relieve redness, eliminate dryness, irritation. Maybe sometimes it is necessary for people in public professions. But you can’t drip them all the time: they constrict blood vessels and reduce the quality of tears, that is, in the future they themselves can provoke “dry eye syndrome”. And with prolonged use, vasoconstriction occurs and, as a result, malnutrition of the retina of the eye.

And what are the consequences of "dry eye syndrome"?

It may not lead to anything - it will just slowly “poison life”. But with this syndrome, there are more chances to “get” conjunctivitis and other eye diseases. And this leads to a violation of the state of the cornea, to intolerance to contact lenses, the impossibility of performing laser vision correction surgery.

For all occasions

What practical advice would you give to those who work at a computer and will work for many, many more years?

Organize your workspace well. The monitor should be at least 50 centimeters from the eyes. You can not work in the dark or, conversely, in bright light, when it is directed directly at the monitor. Light should fall from the side, at an angle of 90 degrees. If there is glare from the window on the monitor, you need to cover it with light curtains.

Observe the regime of work and rest. Take a break from work - drink tea, put drops in your eyes, do a general warm-up and "exercise for the eyes" - look into the distance, to the sides ... It is advisable to repeat this every hour of hard work. If you can’t stop, just look at distant objects more often. If we are talking about a child, then he needs to break away from the computer every thirty minutes.

And, of course, do not forget about proper nutrition, taking antioxidants, multivitamins, vitamins A, B, C, preparations with blueberry extracts.

Is there any “daily norm” for working at a computer for a child and an adult?

It is believed that for a child - this is no more than four hours a day, and then - in rare cases.

It is undesirable to work at night. And for adults, one piece of advice: as often as possible, interrupt and change activities. Indeed, from prolonged sitting in one position, not only the eyes suffer, but the whole organism as a whole.

The computer has become an integral part of the life of a modern person - it is used for work, entertainment, study and communication. But many doctors are sure that frequent pastime in front of the monitor leads to ophthalmic pathologies. Does the computer damage vision and can these problems be avoided? Let's find out!

How the computer affects vision

Not so long ago, it was believed that computer technology generates harmful electron beams that adversely affect human health, and especially before the eyes. Users were advised to put cacti next to the computer, which seemed to absorb negative radiation. After some time, all these statements were found to be false, because it was proved that neither electron beams nor the deadly effects of monitors exist.

The negative impact of the monitor on vision exists only in case of improper organization of the workplace. But this is not the fault of the machine, but the man himself. A decrease in visual acuity can be observed under such conditions:

• The monitor is placed too close to the eyes, which causes eye fatigue. The optimal distance from the face to the monitor should be approximately 70 centimeters, which is equal to the length of an outstretched arm. During operation, a person should see all four corners of the monitor.
• The wrong posture is chosen - in front of the monitor you need to be only in a sitting position. You need to look at the screen from the bottom up, your back should be even, and your neck should be slightly tilted forward.
• The lighting in the room is inadequate. The workplace is recommended to be located on the side opposite the window, as this will ensure the correct fall of sunlight. If the monitor is located directly outside the window, then the eyes will experience discomfort from the difference in lighting.
• Incorrect screen settings are set, for example, it is too bright or too contrasty. Another common mistake is to dim your laptop screen to conserve battery life. Such manipulations will prolong the operation of the gadget for several hours, but will negatively affect vision.

The influence of a computer on human vision depends entirely on the attitude of users to their health. Spending a lot of time at the computer, it is important to properly install the monitor, and also do not forget about regular rest. Every hour you need to give your eyes a few minutes of rest, which will avoid serious problems.

Signs of ophthalmic disorders

Do you know if the computer's vision has begun to deteriorate? The following signs testify to developing negative processes:

• A feeling of dryness in the eyes, which indicates an insufficient level of moisture in the eyeball. The fact is that during everyday activities a person blinks an average of 11 thousand times a day. Thanks to this physiological process, an optimal level of moisture is maintained. Working in front of the monitor, a person blinks 5 times less often, which is why the eyes experience an acute lack of moisture. This leads to their rapid fatigue and susceptibility to bacteria.
• After a few minutes of work, there is a feeling of foreign objects in the eye, as if they are covered with sand.
• A strong rush of blood to the vessels, which makes the sclera appear red. Involuntary lacrimation is also possible, indicating a developing inflammation.
• Adaptation worsens, for example, if you sharply look away from the screen, then it will take several seconds or even minutes to “sharpen the focus”.
• The viewing field before the eyes is a veil, cloudiness, multi-colored circles. Because of this, coordination is lost, it is impossible to concentrate on the environment.

The presence of at least one sign indicates the presence of certain ophthalmological problems. To solve them, you need to reconsider your time spent in front of the screen, check the correct location of the monitor, and be sure to make an appointment with a specialist.

How to keep your eyesight while working at a computer?

• Blink as often as possible, as this will ensure a normal level of moisture and protect the eyes from inflammation. When wearing contact lenses or glasses, it is recommended to additionally moisturize the eyelids with drops, the composition of which mimics human tears.
• Install the monitor in the right place - the window should be behind the seated person, and the screen itself should be ten centimeters above eye level.
• Set the correct and safe screen settings - the refresh rate of the image must be at least 75 Hertz. You also need to set the brightness and contrast indicators recommended by the manufacturer. Do not lower these settings, citing a reduction in energy consumption!
• Once an hour, you need to get up from the computer, stretch your neck, arms, legs, and also do simple exercises for vision.
• Include foods rich in carotene in your diet, as this microelement helps maintain eye health. A large amount of carotene is found in carrots, blackberries, bananas, grapes, dates, beets, eggplants, tomatoes, spinach, walnuts.

Be sure to regularly visit an ophthalmologist and an ophthalmologist, since only a consultation with a specialist will identify the development of gaps at an early stage and prevent it. In most cases, it is enough to properly organize working hours and take special multivitamin complexes.

How to restore vision after a computer?

A special gymnastic complex will help restore visual acuity, which is recommended to be repeated several times a day. It includes the following exercises:

• "Near-far" - look at the tip of the nose and stay in this position for five seconds, and then peer at any distant object, for example, trees outside the window. Repeat 5-6 times.
• "Pendulum" - move your gaze to the left as much as possible, without turning your body or head, hold it for 4-5 seconds. Then look to the right, up and down for the same amount of time. Repeat 4-5 times.
• "Circle" - with your eyes you need to draw a circle, moving first counterclockwise, and then in the direction of its movement. Between sets, you need to peer at any distant object for half a minute. Repeat 10 times.
• "Blinker" - blink as quickly as possible and simultaneously count to ten, then close your eyelids and relax for a few seconds. Then blink rapidly for a minute and close your eyelids again for 5-6 seconds. Open your eyes and look at a distant object. Repeat 3-4 times.

These simple exercises maintain muscle tone and also ensure proper blood flow to them. Positive results of gymnastics will be noticeable in a month, but subject to the daily implementation of the complex twice a day.

Frequent headaches, dryness and irritation of the eyes are all symptoms of prolonged work at the computer and its negative impact on the visual system. Every year more and more patients turn to an ophthalmologist with similar symptoms, and these people are of different age categories. Is office work so harmful to the eyes and does the computer spoil vision - all this will be discussed in this article.

Computer monitor exposure

The regularity of the deterioration of visual functions was noted by experts from different countries. This led to the idea of ​​the negative impact of a computer monitor on visual acuity. But despite this pattern, the results of special studies indicate that the computer does not spoil the eyesight. The radiation emitted by the monitor has a minimal effect on the human visual apparatus, so they cannot affect vision.

What then is the reason? It is not the computer itself that is to blame, but the regular violation of the rules for working with an electronic computer. An improperly equipped workplace, poor lighting, or a monitor placed too high - all these and other factors affect vision.

Causes of decreased visual acuity

There are several main reasons due to which harmless work at the computer can turn into a deterioration in the functioning of the visual apparatus. These include:

• eye position too close to the computer monitor. Very often people forget about the optimal distance to the computer. It is about 60-70 cm;

• correct position of the body in relation to the screen. If a person works at a computer in a lying or standing position, this will negatively affect vision. Therefore, experts recommend taking a sitting position so that the monitor is located directly in front of the eyes;
• too bright lighting. An excessively lit room interferes with normal operation, especially if the sun's rays hit the monitor at a right angle. If possible, adjust the lighting, making it less bright;
• unadjusted brightness in PC monitor leads to increased eye fatigue and, as a result, deterioration of vision. This can be avoided by lowering the excessive brightness of the monitor.

Note! The eyes are damaged not due to the impact of the PC monitor, but due to the fault of the people themselves, who, out of ignorance or inexperience, ignore the safety rules when working with computers. Such neglect can lead not only to visual impairment, but also to the development of various ophthalmic diseases.

Vision may decrease as a result of prolonged work at the computer, because the eyes are too much stressed, due to which they do not have time to recover normally. The minimum number of periods of rest or their complete absence gradually leads to a decrease in the tone of the muscles of the lens, as a result of which a person may fail to adapt to bright light sources. Therefore, vision deteriorates not because of the computer itself, but from working with it, that is, from non-compliance with safety rules.

Associated symptoms

You can notice a decrease in vision by several signs that are difficult to ignore. Let's consider the main ones:

• feeling of dryness in the eyes. As a rule, this symptom manifests itself against the background of insufficient hydration of the mucous membrane of the organs of vision. Increased dryness is often accompanied by the ingress of pathogenic microorganisms on the mucous membrane and, as a result, development;

• increased tearing. With excessive moisture, the blood vessels in the eye area overflow with blood, which causes them to turn red;
• the appearance of foreign objects on the surface of the eyes. This unpleasant feeling often occurs if a person sits in front of a computer monitor for too long and, most importantly, without interruption;

• decreased adaptation of vision. After a person takes his eyes off the monitor, it takes some time to restore clarity of vision;
• formation of a veil before the eyes. Prolonged work at the computer leads to the appearance, due to which, under low light conditions, it is difficult for a person to distinguish between various objects, his visual acuity decreases.

Whether your vision has deteriorated, you will be able to determine if at least one of the above symptoms has been detected. If this still happened, then you need to seek advice from an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. It is impossible to delay with this, so as not to complicate the pathological process and not lead to even worse consequences.

Ways to restore vision

Indeed, in the modern world, many people spend days in front of a computer monitor. And often such a hobby or work, if safety rules are not followed, leads to a deterioration in vision. Moreover, not only children suffer from this, but also older people. But what to do if work is connected with the computer and it is impossible to limit the time spent at the computer? In such cases, you need to follow a few simple recommendations to restore the full functioning of the visual apparatus.

We are talking about the proper arrangement of your workplace and the regular performance of gymnastics. Of course, without a preliminary examination and consultation with a doctor, it is not recommended to do this.

Arrangement of the workplace

It is important that the workplace meets all the requirements, so if you work at a computer every day, you need to devote enough time to arranging the workplace. This will minimize the load on the organs of vision.

• keep the monitor as far away from your eyes as possible. In this case, you need to follow the arm's length rule (the screen should be approximately at this distance);
• work at the PC in only a sitting position, but not in a lying or standing position;
• provide adequate lighting in the work room. For example, the brightness of the monitor screen should not be high, because this will provoke an increased strain on the eyes, especially if you work in a dark room. It is also necessary to ensure that the lighting in the room is not too bright - this also negatively affects visual functions;

• the face should be slightly above the monitor so that when working, the gaze is directed not from the bottom up, but vice versa. It is strongly not recommended to put the screen on the same level with the face;
• between your face and the monitor there should be a distance of 150% more than the diagonal of the screen. First of all, this rule applies to children who, while playing, often do not notice how close they are to the monitor. Therefore, parents should watch this;
• adjust the brightness and contrast on the monitor so that it works comfortably for your eyes;
• put a small table lamp next to the PC. This will improve the lighting in the room and, as a result, reduce eye strain.

On a note! Also, experts recommend about 7-8 times a day or every hour to take a short break. During this time, you need to move away from the workplace, you can use moisturizing drops or do some eye exercises.

Gymnastics for the eyes

The first signs of eye fatigue are headache, redness and itching. If at the height of the working day these signs are simply not noticed and ignored in every possible way, then towards the evening they become more pronounced. They are especially evident during reading or focusing on small objects. Below is an instruction, the observance of which will allow you to relax the organs of vision and prevent violations of their functions.

Table. Relaxing exercises for the eyes.

Often people underestimate the effectiveness of this gymnastics, ignoring the prescription of the attending physician. But with the regular implementation of the above exercises, you can save your eyesight almost to old age. This topic is especially relevant for people who spend more than 6 hours a day at the computer.

How to protect children

Children of the past generation spent all their free time on the street, playing active games of various kinds, but modern children prefer virtual games for a long time. If some parents encourage such activities of their child, believing that this way he will develop more actively, then others, on the contrary, fearing for the visual acuity of their child, try to protect him from the computer.

To prevent harmless PC games from being displayed on the visual functions of the child, parents must follow a few simple rules:

• if the child is not more than 4 years old, then the maximum period that he can spend at the computer should not be more than 20 minutes a day;
• for older children, aged 4 to 6 years, the allowable time is increased to 30 minutes;
• for 8-year-old kids, the optimal allowable playing time at the computer is 40-50 minutes.

Note! Children do not always obey their parents when it comes to their favorite PC games, so they need a special approach. Try to negotiate with them, find a compromise that allows you to protect their vision without moral suffering. For example, delicious ice cream will distract the child from games.

Restoring vision after years of ignoring computer safety rules is a difficult task. But it is much easier to prevent a decrease in visual acuity by protecting the eyes from the effects of computers. This is a feasible task if you follow the following recommendations:

• take regular breaks while working at the computer. Experts recommend getting up from your desk every hour and doing a warm-up for the eyes. If possible, look away from the monitor every 20-30 minutes;
• periodically undergo an examination by an ophthalmologist to check your vision. Possible pathological processes are much easier to eliminate if they were detected at an early stage of development. If necessary, the doctor, after conducting a diagnostic examination, may prescribe other procedures;

• When working at a computer, be sure to use special protective glasses. to reduce monitor glare and improve image quality. For the correct selection of such an accessory, you need to contact an optometrist;

• keep your eyes well hydrated. It is no secret that when reading or working at a PC, the eyes dry out, which leads to irritation. To prevent this from happening, try to blink more often. Also, if necessary, use, the composition of which is very similar to a natural tear.

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