HOME

politicalgraphitti

technospeak

happenings

rantology

creativity

humor

 

RGB Feb. 17th 2005
Growing up my mother would consistently preach to me, "Don't sit too close to the TV or you'll ruin your eyesight." This was usually completely ignored as I sat 5 feet from the screen munching on Doritos and watching Voltron. (Lets face it, not many things would tear a 9 year olds attention from giant mechanical lions killing things)

I find it incredibly ironic that I, and most of the civilized world, break this rule on a daily basis every time we use a computer. Not only has breaking this staple of motherly knowledge become commonplace, it's actually expected! If you work in an office setting, and you don't break this rule, you're probably slacking off (or packing up your belongings in a box, so security can escort you from the building)

It's estimated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that nearly 60 million Americans suffer from eyestrain, a statistic probably boosted by the fact that there are more than 75 million computer users in the U.S.

As a graphic designer, I'm even guiltier of doing this than most. The job means long stints of scrutinizing your work on the monitor. The level of detail requires a pretty high amount of eyestrain. But there are things you can do to protect yourself. This site has an excellent breakdown of preventative measures.
|