by Jomvie
(Francis’ Full-time Virtual Assistant)
Prolonged exposure to your monitor may be harmful to your eyes
Recently, I had this very painful experience with a nauseous feeling and light-headedness. Aside from that annoying feeling, I am required to sit in-front of the computer all day as being a virtual assistant is my full time job. So, mainly, I do everything on the internet and nothing else.
The painful experience
Just another normal day in front of my computer, as I am starting my daily task—as it is my routine. Inside a couple of hours, I suddenly felt that my eyes seem to have been stabbed with something I can’t see and was followed by dizziness.
I lied down for a while and tried to relax a bit then after a few minutes, I went on to sit in front of the computer to continue working again. Unfortunately, there it goes the nausea again. I took some analgesics for the headache but still the unpleasant feeling persisted.
Things just went worst— the stabbing-like pain in my eyes kept persisting to the point that looking into the computer hurts so much that it takes only seconds for me to get a good look on the monitor then I have to close my eyes thereafter.
After a couple of times trying to sit and do my stuff, I decided to take a rest for the day. But, I did some lifehacks on my own—I tried not to look straight at the computer whenever I am typing just look by the sides of the monitor whenever I am checking out things.
Sometimes I still have that light-headedness and vomiting-like feeling and again I applied my own lifehacks to relieve me from pain and continue my online stuff.
The Decision
I decided that I need to consult an eye doctor as I am to be working for a much extended period of time in the future. In this kind of job, the tenure and the productivity strictly depends on the number of hours logged as well as the quantity and quality of the tasks done.
To all the virtual assistants out there, how would you like to let me know what your best tips are in case this occurs at some point in time during your working hours?
Comments for Experiencing Eye Strain as a Virtual Assistant
| Jul 14, 2014 | Taking care of your health = Priority 1+ by: FrancisJomvie, don’t overdo it even if it is your job to work online and at the computer. Try to come up with alternatives that can be acceptable – like printing out reading materials and reading them offline, tracking your time as you go.Also, start with the visit to your eye doctor soon, and then with the list of resources researched from the internet to reduce eye strain.How did that list help you? |
| Jul 15, 2014 | Eye strain–care, tips and exercise by: JomvieHi Francis, yes I tried taking off some alternative like after I spent 2 to 4 hours in the computer, I will go and rest for a while and then back again to my work or take some 5-minute break while my fingers are on the keyboard. It’s quite helpful but I still have that dizziness sometimes especially on the afternoon when the light of the sun is at its highest.I had a bunch of helpful eye care tips and exercise thanks for the links you spent time with—eye exercise is most helpful that allows my eyes to rest from looking straight for hours on the monitor.Will probably visit an eye doctor soon.. thanks! |
| Jul 15, 2014 | Problem with sun glare by: FrancisIt sounds to me as if you also have a problem with sun glare.Try closing the blinds and reducing the brightness of your room. Worst case, you can test pushing your working hours to when the sun is down and test if this helps.Also you can try wearing sunglasses. It’s not only cool, it also blocks excessive lighting. 
Also, did you feel any difference after using F.lux? The eye doctor will help most, however. |
| Jul 17, 2014 | How to lessen sun glare by: JomvieI guess it’s one of the main reasons for my eye strain. Actually, I covered my windows with drapes to lessen sun glare coming through the window. Sunglasses will definitely be cool by the way 😀 And yes, I am feeling better now with that F.lux. But, I haven’t gone to an eye doctor yet. Most probably will visit an eye doctor over the weekend Thanks big time. |
| Sep 24, 2014 | Anti-Glare Spectacles by: Virtual AssistantWell, I will strongly recommend to use an Anti-glare spectacles if you use computer screen for longer hours. (Often called anti-reflected coating or AR coating eyeglasses)
When living a virtual assistant life, you cannot avoid the computer screen at any case, but its very important to take care of those precious eyes. I was also having an eyestrain for the last few days and luckily I visited an eye specialist last week who prescribed these anti-glare spectacles for me. I am using these glasses for the past 5 days and I can already feel the difference. Now I have less eyestrain and my vision towards the computer screen has also been improved |
| Apr 14, 2015 | True information is shared by: Maria M. HartI feel really fortunate to have used your webpage and look forward to so many more fun moments reading here. Thanks a lot again for a lot of things.Great work |
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