Millions of people across the country could be at risk of doing long-term damage to their eyesight due to the effects of working from home through the winter.
Eye care specialists say that as natural light fades in the daytime, adults will be putting excess strain on their eyes.
Now a poll of 2,000 adults who are working from home found one in three have eye strain complaints by the end of each day.
That is in spite of a tenth of poll respondents having three or more lights on in their home office.
Yannick Roth, optician and business developer for Europe at contact lens supplier VisionDirect.co.uk, said: “Poor lighting may do more than just harm your eye health, it can also result in headaches, lethargy, irritability, and in turn, impact your productivity and lower your morale.
“Various lighting effects given off by inadequate light sources like ‘glare’, which occurs when one part of the visual field is much brighter than the average brightness field, do not impair your sight but can lead to physical discomfort and tiredness.”
A number of respondents to the poll admitted the room they primarily reside in has “limited” natural light.
Meanwhile, others are still undecided about whether to invest in specialist lamps, the Independent reports.
The poll also found that 15% never take a screen break, and overall, each day spend nearly eight hours directly gazing at either a computer monitor or their phone.
VisionDirect.co.uk has compiled an online guide of twenty ways British workers can look after their eye health while working from home.
She said: “With these findings in mind, it is clear that taking care of your eye health at home and beyond is essential.
“And, as many of us are now spending more time in front of our screens, it is crucial to start taking action and placate any negative lighting effects to protect our eyes, our bodies, and our mental wellbeing.
“Failure to do so can result in many of the above mentioned symptoms and ultimately, prevent you from working to the best of your abilities.
“Fortunately, simple changes to your daily habits like planning regular screen breaks, adjusting your desk and computer setup, and investing in good-quality, layered light sources can make all the difference.”
The guide is available here.
