[bensandcastle]

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]

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

[JumpCrisscross]

> 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]

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]

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]

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]

Can the eye distinguish between emitted and reflected light?

[neves]

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

[stevenAthompson]

How did you go about that? Can you just take your prescription someplace and have them made?

[zhengyi13]

Tell your optometrist you want that, and they'll write the prescription.

Last I went, they wrote me two different prescriptions: one with an up-close focal point for books/screen work, and a second one with the focal point further out for driving.

[neves]

Yes. You can have reading lenses or lenses for medium distance. Measure the distance from your seat to the screen. Get a max, minimum and most common distance in your different seating positions.

[DavidVoid]

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.

[mattclarkdotnet]

The magic words I think are “occupational multifocals”, which have a small area at the top for distance vision and the remaining 75% set for whatever your occupation is. You need to be very specific on the distance setting

[neves]

Yes. This is the better solution.

Some expensive lenses like Zeiss, Varilux, and Hoya make you an extra pair when you by one. I tought that the extra pair must be equal the first one, but it isn't necessary. I could have asked for a general one and one with a greater area for medium distance.

[bongodongobob]

I used to work in the optical industry, that's not what computer glasses are, they are just blue blocker lenses.

[walterbell]

Any lens can be customized for desired focal length, including distance, intermediate (e.g. computer) or closeup/reading.

[bongodongobob]

Right. It's an industry term though and doesn't have anything to do with focal length.

[jwr]

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.

[qweiopqweiop123]

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]

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]

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.

[imp0cat]

    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?