Screen use and workplace eyecare
Screens do not damage your eyes, but hours of them can leave eyes tired, dry and strained. Here is how to work more comfortably, what your employer must provide, and how we help businesses look after their staff.
Comfortable screen work
- Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Blink while you do it; we blink far less when we concentrate.
- Put the top of the screen at about eye level and an arm’s length away, with documents at a similar distance.
- Avoid a bright window directly in front of or behind the screen. Side light is best, and blinds help.
- Set brightness and contrast to match the room, and keep the screen clean.
- If you are over 45 and wear varifocals, ask us about lenses designed for desk distances. They make a big difference to neck and eye comfort.
- Contact lens wearers: dry eye is the usual culprit for afternoon discomfort. Tell us; a different lens or a simple drop often fixes it.
If your eyes are uncomfortable at work, an eye examination is the place to start. An uncorrected prescription, or eyes that are not working together well, is behind more screen strain than the screen itself.
Your rights as a screen user
Under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations, if you regularly use a screen as part of your job your employer must pay for an eye test when you ask for one, and at regular intervals afterwards, and must pay for basic glasses if you need them specifically for screen work. This applies whether you work in the office or at home.
For employers
We provide screen-user eye examinations for local businesses with the minimum of admin: a simple referral form, a clear report for your records, and one invoice. Glasses are only recommended when they are needed specifically for screen work, and we tell you so in writing.
What is included
- A full eye examination, not a screening
- A DSE report for your files
- Advice to the employee on screen comfort
- Straightforward invoicing
Related pages
- Eye examinations what happens at your appointment
- Revive Eye Spa for eyes that are dry by the end of the day
- Eyewear including lenses for desk work
