The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance and usefulness of telemedicine, to provide a way to connect patients and healthcare professionals when an in-person consultation is not possible.
Telemedicine, a positive but negative practice for visual health
Teleconsultations are a safe and effective way to evaluate suspected cases of COVID-19 and guide the diagnosis and treatment of the patient, minimizing the risk of disease transmission. Telemedicine also enables many of the key clinical services to continue to function regularly and without interruption during a public health emergency.
However, spending several hours in front of a screen can be counterproductive to the vision of doctors.
TELEMEDICINE: Therefore, here are some tips that will help you avoid visual fatigue from screens.
- Adjust your viewing angle
The angle of your gaze plays a key role in CVS. For the best angle, the center of the monitor, tablet, or phone should be 20 to 28 inches from your eyes and 4 to 5 inches below eye level. If you are looking back and forth between a screen and reference materials, keep those materials where you can see them with minimal movement of your head.
2. Reduce glare
The letters on a screen are not as clear as the letters on a printed page. Too little contrast between the letters and the background or the glare on the screen makes your eyes work harder. The result: sensitivity to light.
“Position the screen to avoid glare from ceiling lights or windows,” says Dr. Singh. “Close window blinds or switch to lower watt bulbs in your desk lamp. If you can’t change the lighting to minimize glare, buy a glare filter for your screen. “
3. Use the 20-20-20 rule
When using a computer or device for an extended period of time, take regular breaks to avoid eye strain. Every 20 minutes, take your eyes off your computer and look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes a chance to refocus. After two hours of continuous computer use, rest your eyes for 15 minutes.
4. Blinks frequently
People typically blink about 18 times per minute, but computer users tend to blink only a quarter of the frequency. This increases the chance of developing dry eye.
“To reduce this risk, remember to blink more often and refresh your eyes periodically with lubricating eye drops,” says Dr. Singh.
Once you are done looking at your devices at night. Keep the humidity in your room at least 40% when you sleep to decrease the risk of developing dry eye.
5. Do an eye exam
Uncorrected vision problems (farsightedness or astigmatism, problems focusing or coordinating the eyes, and eye changes associated with aging) can contribute to eyestrain and musculoskeletal pain.
Even if you don’t need glasses or contact lenses for daily activities, you may need them to use your computer or device. If you wear glasses or contact lenses and need to tilt your head or lean toward the screen to see it clearly, you may need to adjust the prescription of your glasses. Get an eye exam periodically to make sure your prescription is correct.
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