Protect your biggest asset - your employees' eyes

Looking into a computer screen for large periods of time, causes nearly 80% of all computer users to suffer from Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), an American study found. The truth is, not only does this cause personal discomfort, it can also have a significant effect on workplace productivity.

Workers who suffer from the common short term effects of CVS - dry eyes, blurred vision, splitting headaches, excessive tearing, eye-fatigue, neck or shoulder pain, double vision and motion after effect (where still objects seems to move) - struggle to keep their work up to standard.

Brandon Sieff, MD of Sieff Optometrists, recommends the following precautionary measures to make sure they take good care of your most important asset.

Test every employee's eyes at least once every year. Sieff Optometrist's mobile service will call on your company to do the tests. This will save important company time since your employees won't need to take leave to visit the optometrist. Importantly Sieff's mobile practice will screen your employees' eyes for free.

Make sure your employees are aware of the following tips

• Remember to blink often when you are working on a computer. Your eye blink rate reduces by 70% while working on a computer. Blinking rests and moisturizes the eyes.
• Use the 20/20/20 rule to take breaks from your computer. For every 20 minutes that you look at your computer screen, rest your eyes for 20 seconds and focus on objects at least 20 feet away.
• Breath freely, since this relax your muscles.
• Lower your screen so that when you look straight ahead, you can see over your computer.
• Use black letters on a white background. This combination provides the highest and is easiest to see.
• Make sure there is no glare on your computer screen. To check for this, turn off the screen and look for lights or other articles reflecting in the screen.
• Make sure there are no other lights shining or reflecting into your eyes.

Visit www.sieffoptom.co.za for more interesting information; you can use the online eye test to check your eyesight whenever you wish.