Improve vision with exercises for your eyes and sight

In this issue:
1. Vision Tip of the Month: Maximize Your Focusing Distance
2. Q & A: How Can I Eliminate Glare from the Computer Screen?
3. The Vision Challenge - Win a $50.00 Gift Certificate

1. Vision Tip of the Month: Maximize Your Focusing Distance

Being able to look up into the distance is the most important way that you can rest your eyes doing computer work.

Ideally, you want to set up your computer so that you can look "beyond the screen" to the farthest object in the room, something that is at least 10-feet away.

If possible, you don't want to be in a corner, or face a wall or a window. (Window light is another source of unwanted stress.) Instead, if possible, try facing a doorway so that your distance view is down the hall.

But – if your computer is in a corner, or if you work in a small space, simply place a small mirror on top of your monitor or on your desk. You can effectively use this mirror to give your eyes a distant view by looking through it and focusing on objects that you see behind you. Doing this will rest your eyes. (Rest also helps prevent the accumulation of visual stress.)

It’s best for your eyes to look into the distance at least once every 3 to 5 minutes. More often is okay, too. The look into the distance only needs to last for a few seconds to be restful to your eyes.

2. Q & A: How Can I Eliminate Glare from the Computer Screen?

Glare is any light or image reflected off the computer screen that reaches your eyes, cannot be ignored, and competes for visual attention.

Glare silently forces you – consciously or unconsciously – to twist and turn your head and body to avoid it. Glare also makes your eyes work harder to focus on the information on the screen (which leads to eyestrain, strains of the neck, back, shoulders and arms).

Sources of glare may be the lights in the room, the light fixtures themselves, unshaded windows, or even bright objects such as your own clothing.

Another form of glare is light that originates from the computer screen itself. This can occur when the brightness control is set or turned up too high and you are viewing dark letters against a bright background.

You can tell there's reflected glare by turning on all the lights in the room before you turn on your computer. If you see any images or reflections on the (turned-off) screen, you'll know that you've got a glare problem.

To reduce or minimize glare, you can experiment by:
- Tilting the screen
- Turning off or lowering offending lights
- Turning your computer so the screen is perpendicular to overhead fluorescents
- Covering fluorescent lights with egg-crate baffles
- Covering windows to block light
- Moving objects that reflect onto the screen

This may do it. However, since most offices weren't built or designed for computer work, it may be impossible to eliminate glare altogether, so you might consider an anti-glare screen or filter.

Tinted glasses

Many offices are over-illuminated and often the overhead lights cannot be turned off. If you cannot control the ambient lighting, it's worth discussing with an optometrist whether or not you should use tinted glasses.

3. The Vision Challenge – Win a $50.00 Gift Certificate

How has your vision changed for the better?
- Are you using a weaker prescription or free of glasses altogether?
- Are your eyes less tired, more relaxed?
- Have changes to your eyesight impacted other aspects of yourself or other areas of your life?

Tell us about the success you’ve had by replying to this email. We’ll choose the two responses that describe the most tangible results that are the most inspiring to others. We’ll send each winner a Gift Certificate for $50.00 towards any items at the bettervision.com store. The deadline to receive your comments is May 31, 2005