It’s no secret that our digital usage has increased over the years, and will probably continue to do so. As a society we are reliant on technology to provide us with answers, to complete our work, and to entertain us.
But did you know that the average UK adult spends half of every day in front of a screen?
Screen usage
Spending on average 6.4 hours a day on the internet (on any device), plus on average watching 4 hours of TV a day. In addition, we spend around 1.8 hours a day on social media, and 1.3 hours listening to music. Totaling 13.5 hours using a device for a range of purposes. This leaves us with around 10.5 hours every day to sleep, wash, eat, and use transportation, but it is well-known that we tend to combine doing various daily activities with device usage. Just how many of us watch the telly and scroll through social media at the same time?
Tips for looking after your eyesight at work
- Make sure to blink! We blink up to 70% less when looking at a screen, which means we could be at risk of developing dry eyes
- Stay hydrated. In line with the above point, drinking enough water throughout the day will help to keep your eyes well hydrated
- Have a good setup. Ensuring you can read text on your desktop or laptop, that the brightness, contrast levels are set correctly. Plus the screen is positioned at eye level and around an arm’s length away from you
- Take breaks. Whatever device we use, we can all get tired eyes, but if your work involves a screen, take regular breaks to give your eyes a rest
- Consider your eyewear. If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses consider how often you wear them, and how things like air-con could affect the comfort of wearing them
- Regular eye tests. Having your eyesight checked regularly ensures that your eyes are healthy and that you prevent diseases of the eyes.
Employers paying for eye tests and glasses
By law, employers must arrange an eye test for DSE users if they require, and provide glasses if an employee needs them for only DSE use.
When using a display screen, the work can be visually demanding and therefore highlight issues with eyes that before went unnoticed. Speak to your employer about arranging eye tests and subsidising glasses.
Vision screening for certain jobs
Uncorrected vision or defects can make working with DSE screens tiring and stressful. Regulation 5 of the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 states, that where a “designated user” experiences visual difficulties which may reasonably be considered to be caused by work on display screen equipment, their employer shall ensure that they are provided at their request with an appropriate eye and eyesight test.
Who should be screened?
An employee’s eyesight is extremely important for some jobs, such as those of medical workers, those in the Aerospace manufacturing industry, and those who are in transportation. For some occupations, workers should have vision screened to ensure their eyesight is at an acceptable level.
- Display Screen Equipment users in accordance with the Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (as amended in 2002).
- Van drivers
- Forklift truck drivers
- Company car drivers
- Close inspection workers
- Occupations where ‘normal’ colour vision is desirable or essential
Vision screening at Acorn
Our vision screening takes around 10 minutes to complete. It includes an assessment of distance, middle and near vision as is appropriate, and if needed a referral to an optician.
Contact Us
For more information on our vision screening service, call us on 01260 277797 or email us via website@acornoh.co.uk