6 ms·

The natural light and diffuse light are good tips. Next is to get a big screen eg. 85" 4K and put it 1.5m away. That should be your main display. I don't have

The natural light and diffuse light are good tips. Next is to get a big screen eg. 85" 4K and put it 1.5m away. That should be your main display. I don't have that all the time, but then I get some variety, 85" @ 1.5m a lot of the time, laptop some of the time, driving/walking etc. for longer range. 1.5m is the midpoint of focus for the muscles in your eyes. I built augmented reality displays and this was the focal plane we selected for to minimize eye strain and the felt sense of vergence/accommodation conflict. We could then throw graphics as close as ~30cm, or at infinity using vergence adjustments, even though the accommodation was at a fixed 1.5m. Graphics felt best at that distance, but they also felt ok in the range 0.5-10m, which suited nearly all productivity scenarios.

frabert 2y ago
85" @ 1.5m is insanely big for me, do you not get sore having to dart your eyes about to read the corners?
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago
  > do you not get sore having to dart your eyes about to read the corners? I wouldn't be surprised if this is what makes it healthier. Not only are you exercising your eyes, you're also giving them a chance to let you know when they need a break.
  - syndicatedjelly 2y ago
    Yep, I set my mouse sensitivity to extremely low as well so that I’m basically “wiping the windshield” of my desk while using my computer
- stevenAthompson 2y ago
  I do almost exactly this, but instead use a cheapish 65" 4k/60hz TV instead. I can see bits of my surroundings with my peripheral vision, but only with the parts of my vision that are already blurry. I suspect that 85" was chosen to maximize immersion for gamers (cover the entire field of view), rather than to minimize eyestrain. For me doing development work on a 65" from about 1.5m is close to ideal.
  - gehwartzen 2y ago
    I have a 4k projector setup which I use from time to time instead of my regular 27” monitor. It makes a pretty big difference especially as it is reflected light. I can sit in front of it for hours without any noticeable eye strain. It’s fine for doing graphical work or web browsing but really not ideal for things like code or excel as I lose my place too often with my eyes having to dart around further. Might just be sitting too close though.
    - xnx 2y ago
      Can the eye distinguish between emitted and reflected light?
neves 2y ago
I made a glasses with the focus optimized for 1.5m. A lot easier on my eyes for working than my progressive lenses.
- stevenAthompson 2y ago
  How did you go about that? Can you just take your prescription someplace and have them made?
  - DavidVoid 2y ago
    Not OP but look into "computer glasses". Usually they're optimized for distances a bit closer than 1.5 meters, but I'm sure that can be changed.
    - bongodongobob 2y ago
      I used to work in the optical industry, that's not what computer glasses are, they are just blue blocker lenses.
      - walterbell 2y ago
        Any lens can be customized for desired focal length, including distance, intermediate (e.g. computer) or closeup/reading.
        bongodongobob 2y ago
        Right. It's an industry term though and doesn't have anything to do with focal length.
        walterbell 2y ago
        Consumers develop their own interpretations and usage of industry terms used in marketing to consumers.
    - 2y ago
jwr 2y ago
I would disagree with 1.5m, but I do recommend checking how close you are to your monitor. Let's assume you have a reasonably sized office monitor (27" or so). Extend your arm with your hand as a fist, forward. If your screen is closer to you than your knuckles, it's too close. Now, for the height: all monitor stands are too low. If you keep your head straight and look at the monitor, you should be looking at the upper third. VESA mounting arms or monitor stands solve this problem.
- imp0cat 2y ago
  all monitor stands are too low. If you keep your head straight and look at the monitor, you should be looking at the upper third. If the stand were too low and were to replace it with a higher one, you would then be looking at the lower part of the monitor and that is better?
- qweiopqweiop123 2y ago
  I've always heard you should be in line with the top of your monitor when looking straight ahead. A quick google has says the said. Either way we're on the same lines - too many people are looking up too much when looking at the monitor. It takes more effort than looking down.
  - Izkata 2y ago
    GP said too low, not too high. I'm thinking a typo though because that doesn't make much sense to me and I agree with you - I always have to adjust monitors as low as they can go in the office.
    - jwr 2y ago
      Not a typo. Most monitors are too low. You should not have to bend your neck to look at your monitor. But some office setups have other issues, such as chairs that are too low, or desks that are too high, in which case your monitor might end up at the right height, but that doesn't mean much if the rest of your setup is wrong. Begin with the desk+chair: they need to be set up so that when your hands are on the keyboard, your elbows form a right angle, or very close to it. Look at piano players for reference. Most setups fail that test. But once you get that right, you will notice that your monitor is way too low and all the stands are too low, which was my point. You need to be looking at the top third when staring straight ahead, otherwise you will need to bend your neck to look at the lower part of the monitor and you will end up with neck pain. Top third, ideally around 2/3 of the monitor, so not the very top.

frabert 2y ago

85" @ 1.5m is insanely big for me, do you not get sore having to dart your eyes about to read the corners?

JumpCrisscross 2y ago
> do you not get sore having to dart your eyes about to read the corners? I wouldn't be surprised if this is what makes it healthier. Not only are you exercising your eyes, you're also giving them a chance to let you know when they need a break.
- syndicatedjelly 2y ago
  Yep, I set my mouse sensitivity to extremely low as well so that I’m basically “wiping the windshield” of my desk while using my computer
stevenAthompson 2y ago
I do almost exactly this, but instead use a cheapish 65" 4k/60hz TV instead. I can see bits of my surroundings with my peripheral vision, but only with the parts of my vision that are already blurry. I suspect that 85" was chosen to maximize immersion for gamers (cover the entire field of view), rather than to minimize eyestrain. For me doing development work on a 65" from about 1.5m is close to ideal.
- gehwartzen 2y ago
  I have a 4k projector setup which I use from time to time instead of my regular 27” monitor. It makes a pretty big difference especially as it is reflected light. I can sit in front of it for hours without any noticeable eye strain. It’s fine for doing graphical work or web browsing but really not ideal for things like code or excel as I lose my place too often with my eyes having to dart around further. Might just be sitting too close though.
  - xnx 2y ago
    Can the eye distinguish between emitted and reflected light?

neves 2y ago

I made a glasses with the focus optimized for 1.5m. A lot easier on my eyes for working than my progressive lenses.

stevenAthompson 2y ago
How did you go about that? Can you just take your prescription someplace and have them made?
- DavidVoid 2y ago
  Not OP but look into "computer glasses". Usually they're optimized for distances a bit closer than 1.5 meters, but I'm sure that can be changed.
  - bongodongobob 2y ago
    I used to work in the optical industry, that's not what computer glasses are, they are just blue blocker lenses.
    - walterbell 2y ago
      Any lens can be customized for desired focal length, including distance, intermediate (e.g. computer) or closeup/reading.
      - bongodongobob 2y ago
        Right. It's an industry term though and doesn't have anything to do with focal length.
        walterbell 2y ago
        Consumers develop their own interpretations and usage of industry terms used in marketing to consumers.
  - 2y ago

jwr 2y ago

I would disagree with 1.5m, but I do recommend checking how close you are to your monitor. Let's assume you have a reasonably sized office monitor (27" or so). Extend your arm with your hand as a fist, forward. If your screen is closer to you than your knuckles, it's too close. Now, for the height: all monitor stands are too low. If you keep your head straight and look at the monitor, you should be looking at the upper third. VESA mounting arms or monitor stands solve this problem.

imp0cat 2y ago
all monitor stands are too low. If you keep your head straight and look at the monitor, you should be looking at the upper third. If the stand were too low and were to replace it with a higher one, you would then be looking at the lower part of the monitor and that is better?
qweiopqweiop123 2y ago
I've always heard you should be in line with the top of your monitor when looking straight ahead. A quick google has says the said. Either way we're on the same lines - too many people are looking up too much when looking at the monitor. It takes more effort than looking down.
- Izkata 2y ago
  GP said too low, not too high. I'm thinking a typo though because that doesn't make much sense to me and I agree with you - I always have to adjust monitors as low as they can go in the office.
  - jwr 2y ago
    Not a typo. Most monitors are too low. You should not have to bend your neck to look at your monitor. But some office setups have other issues, such as chairs that are too low, or desks that are too high, in which case your monitor might end up at the right height, but that doesn't mean much if the rest of your setup is wrong. Begin with the desk+chair: they need to be set up so that when your hands are on the keyboard, your elbows form a right angle, or very close to it. Look at piano players for reference. Most setups fail that test. But once you get that right, you will notice that your monitor is way too low and all the stands are too low, which was my point. You need to be looking at the top third when staring straight ahead, otherwise you will need to bend your neck to look at the lower part of the monitor and you will end up with neck pain. Top third, ideally around 2/3 of the monitor, so not the very top.