Work with Display Screen Equipment, and Special Work Glasses
Essentials
Good visual acuity is important in work with display screen equipment, and the best possible corrected visual acuity at various distances provides the best prerequisite for meaningful and effective work.
This article is written in the Finnish context and hence may contain country-specific policies or details. Find out about regulations and policies that apply in your setting.
Depending on national legislation and policies, people working primarily with display screen equipment may have under certain conditions the right to eyesight testing and special work glasses paid by the employer.
In some people, work with display screen equipment causes strain in the neck-shoulder region and the upper limbs.
Many of the problems are avoidable, or at least may be alleviated, by improving both the ergonomics of the workstation and acquired work habits and by arranging for special glasses for the employee.
With age, the lens will become stiffer and the ability of the eye to adjust to seeing at various distances (accommodation) is impaired. Older employees, in particular, will benefit from work glasses designed for precisely the right working distances.
Eyesight testing of employees
Eyesight testing must be arranged in association with the pre-employment examination before commencing display screen work. Symptom-based examinations should be done, as necessary, if problems associated with vision are encountered in display screen work.
An occupational health nurse should carry out vision screening. The eyesight should be sufficient for the intended work either without glasses or with appropriate corrective glasses.
If necessary, an optometrist or an ophthalmologist should test the eyesight.
Eyesight tests arranged by occupational health care at intervals of 3 years are necessary for workers over 40 years of age because of presbyopia.
The tests are done to identify the need for change of glasses or other appliances due to the normal aging process.
Checking the suitability of glasses and provision of new glasses where necessary maintains working ability in tasks requiring visual attention.
Stress factors associated with display screen work
If glasses used for near vision at work are not optimal, working posture may become inappropriate.
The employee may have to lean forward to see clearly.
If vision at a near distance is not good, the employee may need to lean further away from the screen than normal.
Ergonomic problems may additionally be caused by
sitting in the same position for long periods
repetitive hand movements and prolonged use of the mouse
inappropriate design or position of the keyboard or mouse
hand positions that are uncomfortable and unsupported
neck bent forward or tilted backward
taking too few breaks.
Environmental factors, such as lighting, temperature, air quality and the design of the workstation, also have an effect on the wellbeing of employees.
Prevention of problems
Planning of the ergonomics of the workstation with the help of an occupational health nurse and an occupational physiotherapist
If necessary, arranging for special work glasses providing accurate vision at various distances while preserving a normal working posture
Employees of more advanced age (usually over 40 years) may need special work glasses specifically adjusted for display screen work. Pacing of work will reduce strain on the body and the eyes.
Looking up and focussing the eyes beyond the screen every 30 minutes will relax the muscles involved in focussing.
Employees should get up and move around at least once an hour.
The aim should be to move around or relax during the work day whenever it feels natural and fits in with the work rhythm.
Eye and eyesight tests
Pre-employment examinations
Examinations whenever tasks are changed
Periodical eyesight tests every 3 years for employees over 40; earlier, as necessary, particularly if problems occur with near-distance work.
Need for special work glasses
If an employee has problems with vision, the occupational health staff should assess whether the workstation can be redesigned so that the employee can easily manage with his/her normal glasses and whether the vision has been optimally corrected.
Assessment can be based on an eyesight test performed by an occupational health nurse, by ergonomic measurements performed by an occupational physiotherapist and on assessment by an occupational physician.
If necessary, the employee should be referred to an ophthalmologist or an optometrist for examination. Based on the examiner's statement, occupational health staff will assess the need for special glasses.
The need for special work glasses should be considered based on the following examinations:
checking of the ergonomics of the workstation and measurement of working distances performed by an occupational health nurse or an occupational physiotherapist or both
checking of eye health and long- and working-distance refractive power by an ophthalmologist
selection of optimal lens type by an optometrist based on measurement of distances by an occupational physiotherapist and on the purpose of use.
Reimbursement of special work glasses by the employer requires that the statement clearly shows the basis for the need for special glasses.
Special glasses are often recommended if the employee needs different near correction at display screen distance than at document reading distance.
In monitoring rooms, the distance to the display screen may differ significantly from that in offices. Separate glasses may be needed to provide the best possible visual acuity at the distance of the display screen, at document reading distance and also at monitors at an intermediate distance.
Electricians and people doing similar work with a particular need for corrected near vision looking upward (meter boards) often need special work glasses.
For protective glasses, separate correctly dimensioned bifocal near vision correction is often needed (technical drawings with small text, meter displays).
The decision on reimbursement of frames or special lens treatments by the employer is made separately for each workplace.
Special work glasses can be defined as glasses that differ from normal glasses in strength, lens type or fit of the lenses in the frames. Even if the person wears the glasses only at work they are not considered special work glasses if they do not differ from normal glasses.