Eye Care Tips to Improve Your Online Training Experience
Whether you’re an applicant looking to acquire new competencies or already an employee preparing for upskilling, online training can be incredibly valuable for professional development. To start, web-based training solutions provide flexibility, allowing you to learn at your own pace according to your goals and needs. Compared to traditional learning through on-site courses and workshops, online training is also cost-effective since you can save money on transportation and instead learn anytime, anywhere.
Despite these advantages, online training can still come with unique challenges and limitations. For instance, spending prolonged hours in front of electronic devices like computers to access learning materials can contribute to visual and ocular symptoms. A study published in the journal Ophthalmology and Therapy notes digital eye strain as an emerging problem among screen users, with the condition characterized by dry eyes, itching, blurred vision, visual fatigue, and headaches.
Suffering from these symptoms can distract you and ultimately affect the learning outcomes, but the following tips can ensure a healthy and eye-friendly training environment.
Wear blue light glasses
The same research linked above points out the role of blue light — the high-energy, short-wavelength light emitted by digital devices — in digital eye strain. Specifically, blue light exposure has been associated with eye fatigue, dry eyes, and retinal damage.
Fortunately, you can wear blue light glasses during online training sessions to reduce blue-violet light from electronic sources, preserve visual comfort, and ultimately minimize the said eye health risks. Optical retailer Eyebuydirect offers a range of lens coatings that filter out harmful blue-violet light and allow safe levels of turquoise blue light to pass through, thus maintaining a neutral tint for productivity and alertness. These include EBDBlue Plus for advanced digital protection and EBDBlue 360 with premium anti-glare coating, available for both prescription and non-prescription eyewear.
Maintain ergonomics in your workstation
In addition to using protective eyewear, it helps to pay attention to the ergonomics of your workstation. Whether you attend online training in the office or at home, factors such as your posture, furniture, and equipment can make a difference in whether or not you experience eye strain and other visual symptoms.
For example, a previous post on workplace ergonomics points out the importance of positioning your monitor directly in front of you at eye level to avoid straining your eyes, neck, and back. Besides reducing the risk of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort, adjusting the height of your chair and desk relative to your monitor can also reduce digital eye strain symptoms like double vision and tension headaches. This is because you don’t have to squint, lean forward, or slouch just to clearly see the text and images displayed on the screen.
Ensure proper lighting
Another crucial factor in maintaining an eye-friendly learning environment is proper lighting. Starting with the device you use, utilize the display settings and adjust the brightness accordingly to reduce glare, which otherwise makes you squint excessively to see comfortably.
Additionally, consider external lighting sources like light bulbs and lamps, making sure they aren’t competing with screen brightness and adding harsh glare to your work environment. If natural lighting is limited in your room or office, you can benefit from using a desk lamp from the brand Madison Liquidators. Aside from reducing energy use by up to 75%, these LED desk lamps have a built-in dimmer switch so you can control the brightness and color temperature depending on your vision and comfort needs.
Take regular breaks
Lastly, remember to take regular breaks, no matter how engaged you are in the training courses and materials. You have the benefit of learning flexibly at your own pace, so use this to your advantage and give your eyes a break from the constant visual demand.
Whether it’s a short ten-minute break or an hour-long break, you can spend the time stretching, doing eye exercises like blinking and palming, and drinking water. The last part is especially important for eye health, as optometrists suggest proper hydration to retain ocular moisture and reduce the risk of dry eye disease.
By following the eye care tips mentioned above, you can protect your eye health and better focus on the online training courses offered by eSoft Skills. Our training solutions are extensive and cover fields like leadership, management, and human resources, so explore our website to learn more about our offerings.
Author:
Samantha Pine is a seasoned health and wellness writer with a passion for promoting overall well-being. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Samantha has contributed to numerous health publications and online platforms. Her insightful articles cover a wide range of topics aimed at helping readers lead healthier lives.
