With the 20-20-20 rule, it is possible to protect your eye and to avoid eye-dryness by resting them! Eye Health and Diseases Specialist Instructor Dr. Fatih Atmaca explained the 20-20-20 rule.
If you work on computer all day, you are highly recommended to rest your eyes by looking at a point 20 meters away from you for 20 seconds after each 20 minutes of work on computer. This method will protect your eyes and we had an interview with Dr. Atmaca on the details of the rule.
What is the 20-20-20 rule?
Like accountants, bankers and programmers, especially, we spend quite a long time in front of screens. We recommend those who do so to rest their eyes by looking at a point 20 meters away from themselves for 20 seconds after each 20 minutes of work in front of the screen. This is a practical rule to enable our eye muscles to also see the distant range.
How can we protect our eye health?
Thanks to this rule, we rest our eyes and prevent eye dryness.
Every day more and more people spend long hours on computer and cell phones. So how does this affect our eyes?
When we are focused on an object, we blink for about 10-12 times. Under normal conditions, it’s 18 times ... When we look at an object, we cannot have enough tears in our eye because of the small number of blinking. Therefore, we cannot moisturize our eyes sufficiently. Also, devices such as computers, tablets or cell phones increase the dryness of the eyes by spreading heat, ray and radiation.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the dryness of the eyes, to rest eyes and to prevent the risk of visual impairments such as myopia and astigmatism which may be caused by being in front of the screen for a long time.
How does visual impairments and disorders affect our daily life?
Spending too much time on the screen causes refraction disorders, i.e. visual impairments, such as myopia and astigmatism.
Which eye diseases do the rays from the computers and cell phones cause?
Eye dryness is also an issue. Because of the air conditioners, spot lights and windows that cannot be opened in the office, the air is already dry. Plus, when we look at the screen continuously, the risk of eye dryness increases. That is why, it is very likely for those who work for long hours on the screen to have visual impairments.
What should people engaging with their computers and cell phones do to protect their eyes?
The most important thing to do for them is to restrict the time they spend in front of the screen. If they are not able to rest their eyes, they should at least apply the 20-20-20 rule. In addition, it is possible to increase tear secretion by frequently blinking eyes and closing them tightly. Using artificial tear drops will also make our eyes more comfortable. This method helps to protect our eyes. We need to mind working in an environment with fresh air circulation, having a blue filter on our screens, having glasses (if you’re using any) with antireflective preventing the harmful effect of blue wavelength. In this way, in particular, we will reduce the negative effect of the rays from the computer screen that damage our eyes.
