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tranfree issue 12 - 15 March 2000
Eyepower!Anonymously contributed by a tranfree subscriber who translates and interprets from French and German to English. Now that you have given your back the attention it deserves, be sure not to neglect that other physical asset without which no translator can work, namely your... Modern living, including the amount of close work done by those working with computers, is taking its toll on our eyesight, something which is becoming increasingly recognised by the medical profession. It is high time that we translators took sufficient care of this essential tool of our trade, as it is not one we can either replace or upgrade at will or indeed insure either. The use of computers, is only one of a number of changes in our lifestyle, such as television viewing and night driving which previous generations did not have to cope with. Add to this climate changes, the thinning ozone layer and increased UV rays which are all having an effect on the state of our eyes. Specialists are noting that eye fatigue is becoming much more common. Ideally, everybody should learn to exercise their eye muscles and to allow them to rest, just like doing some physical exercises as a change from sitting for hours in the computer operator's chair. Apparently focussing on close, two-dimensional work is known to cause a degree of short-sightedness in children who initially had no sight problems. The specific problems associated with computer work start from a technical basis. The eyes are operating in electro-magnetic fields which cause them to work harder and infra-red from the screen adds to the strain. It is estimated that between 25% and 30% of people have eye conditions resulting from screen work. Make sure you have your eyes tested regularly, especially if you already wear or contact lenses. Do so without delay if you suddenly experience problems, particularly if you already use these preventive measures. There are 2 simple and relatively cheap ways of helping your eyes at the...
This additional lighting means that everything you are working on is well lit, whether papers on one side, perhaps a poor-quality fax, and dictionaries with a variety of small and tiny prints on the other. Some dictionaries have such small print that extra light may even be needed if you are working on them uninterrupted for a long time or even a good quality magnifying glass. Translators' concentrated visual work on print and screen while providing a range of material, some changes in direction and slight differences in range of vision, slows down the rate of blinking, the process which washes the eyeball with tears and keeps it lubricated. It appears that today about 15% of people suffer from dry eyes. Central heating, air-conditioning and smoking dehydrate the tissues further. Psychologically it is very important to keep the eyes moist, as dry eyes can make you feel tired. Again, there are 2 simple remedies for eyestrain...
Ideally you should close your eyes for at least one minute every hour both to rest them and retain their humidity and rest them for about 10 minutes altogether every hour. Eye exercise is equally important. Dry eyes can cause allergies and dryness makes the eyes more susceptible to infection. There are artificial tears available, but they bear no relation to the real thing. If you feel strain, splash eyes with warm water. Before starting the day's work it is a good idea to splash closed eyes 20 times with warm water, then 20 times with cold. Repeat the process in the evening starting with cold water. Any recommended type of eye pads, such as the humble cucumber, will benefit you after a hard day, as will lying in a darkened room with eyes gently closed. Dehydration is another factor in eyestrain, so be sure to drink plenty of water, at least 2 litres daily. Think about diet as well. Avoid junk foods and choose nutrient rich fruit and vegetables if you need a snack while working. Recent research has shown that the eyes too need various nutrients for different activities, such as vitamin A from carrots for night vision. Vitamin B6 is for tear production, with vitamins C and E to prevent cloudiness, not forgetting magnesium to reduce visual fatigue. Looking at colour and the other visual activities are dealt with by different parts of the eye, so each requires nutrients. If you have a balanced diet, additional vitamins will make no difference. A few final tips to help the eyes...
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...eyes and eyesight.
...computer screen. I know from experience, I have tried both
and found them very helpful.