Visual Hygiene, Ergonomics and Prevention

After conducting talks aimed at parents and teachers in different schools and colleges, we find the need to stop writing all the recommendations that we share with them.

The main concern of optometrists when we see students in the classroom is the attitude they have when they are sitting at the table, often in very little ergonomic positions and the need for high standards of hygiene visually very present at all times.

"Hygiene is defined as the part of medicine that aims to preserve health and prevent illness." Therefore, visual hygiene is a set of rules, easy to follow, designed to control the factors that may cause harmful effects on vision.

Hygiene standards help improve visual and visual problems, although not completely resolved, it does help to have a better performance and less eyestrain.

While reading and writing is necessary to bear in mind:

• Posture: Sit properly. The feet should touch the ground, legs bent at right angles and the back is touching the backrest.
• Working Distance: The distance Harmon is the distance between the elbow and the tip of the thumb. This distance is variable throughout the students' lives, as they grow the distance grows. So, between the eyes and the paper should keep away from Harmon. About any activity carried out without respecting the distance Harmon is an effort greater than the visual system can effectively hold.
• Furniture: We must remember that children need appropriate furniture for their size. The chair should be able to regulate height. The table base is having an inclination of 20º, so the posture is more relaxed, less effort and better visual position for breathing. If you do not have a table and a lectern is a good solution.
• Lighting: Keep the ceiling light or natural light and the light of the desk. This should be well illuminated with a light that does not touch the eyes, do not glare and shadow do not write. For right-handed people the light is coming from the left, and the left-handed light is coming from the right.
• Breaks: Each 20-minute work for 20 seconds to look at a far distance of 6 meters or the window for a few moments to relax your vision.
• Setting: A room well ventilated and normal temperature will be studied more comfortable.

These small recommendations are the key to the visual performance of children and young people is optimal to reach adulthood with children with visual impairments and excellent quality of vision.

Source: ACOTV (Catalan Association of Optometry and Vision Therapy)