[GTO]

If you're a forum user, odds are that you spend several hours a day staring at the computer screen.

Sharing a tip that has greatly helped my eyes...The 20:20:20 rule.

In a nutshell, you have to give your eyes a break by looking at an object at least 20 feet away, every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds. It's that simple! Helps in relaxing the eyes and preventing strain / computer vision syndrome.

I can attest to the benefits of this practice. No more strained eyes or blurry vision after marathon hours on the computer. Also, remember to keep blinking your eyes & place the screen a minimum of 20" away from your face

I use a nifty freeware called Eyes Relax that pops up a reminder to rest my eyes. Made the break interval & duration longer (30 second break every 25 minutes). I highly recommend a download of this light, bug-free software.

[GSMINC]

Thanks, downloaded it, works great
now, why didn't somebody think about it earlier

[Car_Freak_911]

Blinking your eye more often also helps. It keeps the eye from getting dried.
I usually wash my face with cold water after one hour of viewing which also kinda helps.

[thoma]

I had a similar reminder installed on my office desktop earlier, but it turned out to be an interruption while concentrating on fixing bugs. I tend to loose the flow of thought and hence took it off.

[aaggoswami]

Thanks GTO!
Very nice information. Will recommend it for office and this is a sure shot install for my home PC.

[Mohan Mathew A]

Thanks GTO. It is very thoughtful of you to share it. Much appreciated

[GTO]

Happy to help

Originally Posted by Car_Freak_911

I usually wash my face with cold water after one hour of viewing which also kinda helps.

I usually wash my face every 90 minutes or so.

Originally Posted by thoma

but it turned out to be an interruption while concentrating on fixing bugs

Nothing more important than your eyes, I guess. Also, the software I linked to lets you "add another 5 minutes" when required.

[thoma]

Originally Posted by GTO

Nothing more important than your eyes, I guess.

Very much true, but I was speaking about my personal inability to cope with distractions while thinking hard. So I usually end up ignoring the reminders than taking a break and thinking all over again.

Eye strain leads to overall fatigue in my case and I occasionally use Nethramritham and Elanir Kuzhampu, two Ayurvedic eye drops from Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala.

[vikram_d]

Along with Eyes relax, I also use another software called f.lux. What this software basically does is that it turns the monitor's colours to a warmer temperature setting as the sun begins to set. Helps a lot when you are using the computer in the evening/night.

http://justgetflux.com/

[k_ajay]

Great reference to the freeware GTO, thanks. I've shared it with my colleagues and sent a note to our InfoSecurity team to review the Freeware to make it a legit download for our office.

A tip I'd like to share is that my laptops at home and office are always at the lowest level of the brightness spectrum (on my office Dell laptop, that itself is quite well lit and not dark). It will help, in addition to other efforts. Higher screen brightness is more stress for the eyes.

[jalsa777]

That's a really helpful tip. In fact, I have been practising the same since the past month or so.
Not only should you look away for a while, but I recommend getting up, walking about and stretching a bit too.

Here's another freeware that I have been using and fulfils the same purpose: http://monkeymatt.com/bigstretch/

[ashis89]

My previous organisation had this installed in all the computers, came as a software update. It was a good reminder but also a distraction at times. Later it was removed in another software update.

I have downloaded and installed it as I usually use my laptop for more than 8 hrs everyday.

[parsh]

Superb tips to start with. Been trying to keep doing something similar consciously over the years with varying timeslots albeit not aided by software.

Another thing would be to find a spot of greenery near-about, can be small one, even through window or passages of workplaces, and focus on it for this break atleast on an hourly basis. It turns out to be quite soothing to the eyes.

Additionally, if there is a copper utensil at home, use the water kept in it to wash and cool off eyes regularly. Water from copper utensils is also very good for health and a glassful at the start of the day serves good for upkeep, though water should not be very old/stagnant since long time.

I had a leaflet from an eye hospital for actions to do for such upkeep, will try to dig it out and post soon.

[phamilyman]

The other old enough alternative is http://www.workrave.org/download/

[beejay]

Best and easiest method. Every half an hour try to fix your gaze on the most distant object that you can see.
Fex- A tree and look at it for a while constantly blinking your eyes. The more distance the better.