eye strain?

[Keen]

Hi

I started a new job a few months ago, its a marketing job, bit shit, involves sitting at a computer for most of the day.
Recently I did this big project that involved reformatting a load of multimedia content so I was editing images in photoshop all day for about 2 weeks solid and since then, my eyes have been a bit dodgy. I get the feeling that things are a little blurred and they just plain ache a bit. Also this sounds weird, but things sometimes feel too bright when they shouldnt and I have problems focusing on things.

Obviously, I need to get it checked out, but does anyone else have problems like this? I'm not used to being in front of a PC all day and I think my eyes are suffering from it.
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[LustyLew]

Recommendations are you should take regular (read hourly) breaks from VDU work.

My company will pay for an annual eye test (up to £20) and if you develop the need for galsses the will give you £50 towards your first pair. After that, you're on your own.

I beilive* the rules are that if your work requires VDU use throughout the day they are required to (at the minimum) provide an annual eye test.

I should point out that many companies get around this by saying that you also do filing and other menial tasks that don't reuqire your PC just to worm out of £20.

First steps would be to adjust the brighness and contract on the screen. Then if it's still a pain request an eye tet paid for by the company.

* - they may have changed since I last looked into it.
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[Annabella]

If you do need to wear glasses, which you may find having had an eye test, then I would recommend an anti-glare coating. Since starting my new job which involves sitting in front of a screen for large portions of the day I found myself getting headaches.
Had a new pair of glasses with anti-glare and it seems to have helped a lot.

Make sure you take a quick break every 20 minutes to look away from the screen and longer breaks less frequently. If you can when you look away, try to focus at something far away to 'stretch' your eyes.
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[Clanger]

Whenever I've worked for a company using the mac/pc as my main job, I always got free eyecare...check with personnel...you might find its in place at your work. They rarely come forward with this info, you generally have to find out for yourself!
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[froggeh]

Sounds similar to me (I am (or rather) was a programmer) - Like has been said, if your job directly involves the use of a VDU, your company must pay for an eye test, and if it is found that the VDU use has nececcitated the need for glasses, they must contribute...

I found the worst problem is the modern striplights they use are way too bright... Went to the optician and was told I was photophobic (Basically lights glare) - I got some slightly tinted glasses which I rarely use, but when I get the blurry vision, or sometimes a headache, I do... Don't need em for driving/riding tho, passed my test 2 months ago without.

[Itchy]

if you are in an office , and use outlook , set a calendar appointment , then when the alarm comes up set it to 15 minute snooze , when evetr it comes up look away at something far , or go have a quick walk ,

I set mine to alternative 15 and 30 minute shifts , every 30 mins I'll go for water or to the toilet , saves the eye strain a little.
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[kawashima]

I apply eye lotion every 30minutes. Staring at screen often decrease blinkings, eyes become dry easily. This causes eye pain.
Eye pain sometimes come from stiffness of neck, back of the head, shoulders. I use pain-reliever. If the PC is note PC, you need to keep your palms up from desk, this cause stiff shoulder. Gel type arm rest pad is good.
And I wear weak glasses when I do PC work. Thick glasses made for outdoor, riding, driving are sometimes too strong for PC work, eyes need to control the crystalline lens more, and cause exhaustion. I don't believe what glasses shop clerks say. They try to worsen our sight and make us buy more glasses by various means. I change 2 glasses.
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[Itchy]

Free eye care isn't free ,

they can be made to pay for your eye test but you can't make them pay for glasses as this will never ever pass the duality test unless such glasses are tethered to your work station and I have seen a Tax inspector fail tax returns based on this more than once.

As employees the governement see us as utter scum , change to being a contractor and claiming 20% personal use is A OK , and stuff that'll never pass the duality test suddenly does.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[queen of string]

So, me claiming my annual glasses off my company isnt ok then? :S
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[Keen]

cheers for the advice, I'm pretty sure my company does pay for eye tests and for glasses as well, this is france so they're pretty good with these kind of social things.
Still, I've always had good eye sight and never needed glasses, would be annoying to have to start now. I think I'll just try to be more ergonomic at work and take more breaks (sounds good to me ).
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"he who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man"- Dr. Johnson