The computer age has brought us many conveniences, however with so many people using so many computers so much of the time, complaints of eye strain and discomfort have become commonplace in many physicians’ offices.

To help alleviate eye problems many of us currently experience, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has marked March as Eye Safety Month and put together some helpful tips to keep your eyes safe and secure:

• Make sure to get a regular eye exam by an ophthalmologist. They can rule out the possibility of serious eye disease as the cause of your symptoms and update or add eyeglasses to resolve the issue.
• When you’re in front of a computer screen, make sure you sit approximately 20 inches from the computer monitor with the top of the screen at or below eye level.
• Try to select an adjustable task or computer chair that allows height, angle and lumbar adjustments.
• When choosing a computer monitor, make sure you select one that is adjustable with individual contrast and brightness controls.
• Use a document holder for reference materials to reduce the need to keep refocusing your eyes and turning your neck and head back and forth.
• Take periodic rest breaks and try to blink often to keep your eyes from drying out.
• If possible, try to modify the lighting in your environment to eliminate reflections and glare.