Vision is the most important sense for designers, allowing you to choose the right colors, hone in on details, pick the right typeface, and ensure all these elements come together to create the best graphics, logos, and more. Since you use your sight for work, it’s imperative that you take care of your eyes for better comfort and wellness. Unfortunately, eye care is often sidelined or ignored, and you may brush off eye strain or fatigue and say it’s normal for the job. However, leaving these issues unaddressed can lead to worse vision and eye problems down the road. If you want to take better care of your eyes in the new year, here are some tips you can follow:
Get an eye test
Eye tests are essential for good eye health yet are often undermined. Getting your eyes checked by a professional can help you track your vision changes to see if you need a prescription or are due for an update. An accurate prescription can ensure clear vision and minimize eye strain and headaches if you wear the wrong one, helping you stay comfortable while designing. It can also detect eye conditions early or assess your risk, leading to effective prevention and treatment to preserve your vision for longer. Fortunately, they’re more accessible than ever; aside from optician clinics, you can get an eye test done at your nearest eyewear retailer. Eyewear retailer OPSM enables customers to find a store close to their location and book an appointment directly on their site, making the process easy and convenient. You should get an eye test done at least every two years or more frequently if you have a high risk of eye conditions, so you may be long overdue for a check-up.
Invest in eye care technology
Designing often involves long hours in front of a screen, which can lead to eye strain, dryness, blurred vision, and more. Investing in eye care tech can help you be more aware of your eye health to mitigate eye strain symptoms. Many modern monitors are equipped with technology to reduce eye issues from screen time, especially as more people spend time on their devices for work and leisure. BenQ’s GW2485TC and GW2785TC monitors have a wide variety of tools and settings that make the experience more comfortable for the eyes. It has blue light reduction and flicker-free features integrated into its proprietary Brightness Intelligence Technology, which adapts to lighting scenarios while ensuring vivid colors while minimizing blue light, which is helpful for designers who need to be aware of the colors they’re using. The Eye-CareU virtual assistant also sets timers and reminders to help manage eye health and computer usage. Technology can help you keep your eyes comfortable while you design.
Adjust your lighting
Whether you work in an office, your home studio, or even your bedroom, lighting plays a crucial role in preventing eye strain and fatigue. Adjusting your lighting conditions can make things easier on the eyes so you aren’t designing in discomfort. Natural lighting is ideal, but if you’re a night owl and like to work at night, avoid turning on too many lights or using harsh overhead lighting. A task light can be useful for lighting specific parts of your desk without brightening the room too intensely. Glare can also occur while you’re working, especially if a window is in front or behind you. Position your computer or desk to the side of the window or install blinds and curtains to reduce the amount of light entering the room. You can choose blinds or curtains with a lighter fabric to allow some light to enter the room while diffusing it to reduce harshness. You can also tilt and move your monitor or laptop to find an orientation that prevents glare and reflections.