Lighting,
Reflection, and Glare
The display screen may reflect light from overhead lights, task
lights, or light from windows. The reflections and the resultant
glare can increase the difficulty of visual work.
Glare
Glare can be minimized by appropriate attention to workstation
considerations such as proper lighting. Glare may be intensified
by electrostatic accumulation of dust particles, finger marks,
or other sources of dirt on the screen surface. Daily cleaning
with an anti-static cloth can be helpful in this situation.
Often, rearranging the workstation furniture so the screen
doesn't receive direct illumination (for example, from a nearby
window) will fix the problem. Too little light from the screen
can amount to the same thing as too much room illumination.
Adjusting the brightness and contrast may solve the problem.
Reflections
The simplest way to reduce reflections from sources that cannot
be removed is to turn or tilt the monitor so the reflections
are not in the user's line of sight. Most monitors have tilt
and swivel bases that allow such adjustments. If the monitor
is tilted downward, light sources from above the level of
the monitor will not be reflected.
Task Lights
To supplement office lighting, task lights may be used for
reading from source documents and written material.
Eye Care
One factor influencing comfort when looking at the
computer monitor is eye lubrication, which is especially important
for wearers of contact lenses. Computer users tend not to
blink as frequently as people performing other reading tasks.
Eye discomfort from this staring effect is exacerbated by
low humidity. In addition, many computer users maintain the
same body position for long periods of time. Therefore, all
computer users should be encouraged to focus on distant objects,
to look away from the terminal, and to move head and body
periodically for comfort.
Rest your eyes by occasionally looking out a window and pick
an area with depth. Focus on something close then a little
bit further and continue as far as you can see. Then reverse
by focusing on something close, then something closer. This
will help relieve eye strain and also strengthen the eye muscle.