Everything you need to know to maintain good visual hygiene and ergonomics—and prevent eye problems.
Ergonomics is a fundamental pillar for healthcare professionals, as they are exposed to long hours of highly precise work that demands detailed vision and sustained body posture. However, when we talk about ergonomics in dentistry and medicine, we often focus on body posture, overlooking a crucial aspect: visual ergonomics.
In previous articles, we already discussed the importance of visual ergonomics in dentistry and how it affects clinical performance. In this article, we’ll go deeper into what actions you can take to optimise your working conditions and achieve perfect visual ergonomics.
Taking care of your visual health not only improves performance but also helps prevent medium- and long-term pathologies.
Why are visual ergonomics so important?
Vision is essential for healthcare professionals — precision in clinical procedures largely depends on it.
In dentistry, for instance, millimetric precision largely depends on clear, steady, and effortless vision. The same applies to surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, or any medical specialty where fine detail makes the difference between a good and an excellent diagnosis or treatment.
Without proper visual ergonomics, the eyes are forced to overwork, leading to:
- Eye fatigue
- Headaches
- Blurred or double vision
- Dry eyes
- Difficulty focusing
- Increased risk of clinical errors
Over time, continued exposure to these conditions can lead to occupational visual syndrome and even postural problems due to compensating with the neck and back to improve focus.
9 tips for good visual hygiene in dentistry and medicine
Several work-related factors directly contribute to symptoms such as blurry vision, eye strain, or headaches. That’s why it’s important to adopt simple preventive strategies during daily clinical practice or in the operating room.
Here are some useful tips to help care for your eye health:
Ambient lighting
Poor or misdirected lighting forces your eyes to strain. Good ambient lighting with the right intensity helps reduce visual effort.
Proper posture
Maintaining a proper posture will help you avoid focusing your eyes too closely on the treatment area.
Working distance
Maintaining a healthy working distance between your eyes and the patient’s mouth reduces focusing effort. Surgical loupes and microscopes are great allies in achieving this.
Lighting system
An addition to ambient lighting, use task-specific lighting that increases contrast and improves visibility in the treatment area.
Take breaks
From time to time, rest your eyes by changing your focus or switching to a task that doesn’t require close-up vision.
The 20-20 rule
Every 20–30 minutes of visually demanding activity, it’s recommended to look at a distant object for 20 seconds. This relaxes your accommodation system and helps prevent accumulated eye fatigue.
Blink more often
Prolonged concentration reduces the blink rate, leading to dry eyes. Blink consciously and drink enough water to keep your eyes lubricated. This helps prevent dry eye syndrome.
Schedule regular eye exams
Last but not least, visit your trusted optometrist and ophthalmologist regularly to check your vision and detect any changes in your prescription or eye health. Don’t wait for symptoms to act.
Also, don’t forget to follow a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, along with proper hydration—to feel good both inside and out.
Visual ergonomics: an investment in health and professional performance
Prevention is the best tool to avoid health issues. Visual ergonomics not only protects your eyes, but also boosts comfort, precision, and performance at work.
Adopting good visual habits and using the right magnification tools—such as customised loupes, microscopes, or lighting systems—is a smart medium- and long-term investment for professionals who rely on precision and excellence every day.
At Víttrea, we offer magnification systems and ergonomic equipment to help you follow these tips to the letter. If you’re interested in incorporating them into your clinical practice, email us at hola@vittrea.com or call us at +34 984 491 808.
Get in touch with us for more information!