20/20 Vision and Beyond: Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes

As specialists in financial advice for union members, Union Plus is not just here to help when things go wrong; we're also committed to your ongoing health and wellness. That’s why we’ve put together some expert tips to help you reduce eye strain and protect your vision.

In today’s digital era, many of us have transformed corners of our homes into offices. While it has increased flexibility and comfort, this shift has also led to increased screen time. While the convenience of digital devices can’t be denied, spending too much time with our devices can lead to significant risks to our eye health. 

1. Practise the 20/20/20 Rule

To ease eye strain, try the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, move your gaze to an object at least 20 feet (about 6 metres) away for at least 20 seconds. Doing this helps to relax your eye muscles and reduce fatigue.

2. Get your screen set up right

Make sure that your screen is placed an appropriate distance away to avoid straining your eyes. Ideally, it should sit away from you at a distance of about the length from your knuckle to your elbow. It’s also important to keep your screen at eye level and maintain a good posture to avoid neck and back strain.

3. Blink often

When we are focusing on screens, our blink rate lowers, which can lead to dry eyes. To prevent irritation as a result of this, try to make a conscious effort to blink regularly when you’re using your devices or working on screens.

4. Light up the room

Good lighting is essential to reduce glare and strain. Use lighting that is bright enough for the space in which you’re working, and adjust your screen settings to suit the lighting conditions. Keeping your workspace clean, including your hands and glasses if you wear them, can also prevent additional eye problems.

5. Limit blue light exposure

Exposure to blue light at night can disrupt your sleep cycle by affecting the production of the sleep hormone, melatonin. Try to reduce evening screen time and use features like night or dark mode on your devices to help minimise blue light exposure.

6. Encourage outdoor time for children

Just like adults, kids' eyes are susceptible to screen strain too. The rise in short-sightedness (myopia) in children is linked to increased screen time, so make screen breaks part of your child's routine and encourage them to play outside whenever possible. Spending time outdoors exposes their eyes to natural light and helps them focus on distant objects, which may help reduce the risk of myopia.

How Insurance Helps

If something does go wrong and you require medical treatment for your eyes, then having a health insurance policy that covers specialists and tests can be really important. If you are a regular glasses and contact lenses user then there are some health cover modules that could be just right for you.

If you’d like to explore your insurance options as a union member, get in touch with us today.