The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022 - 24

Use Artificial Tears: If your
eyes get dry, a little bottle of
artificial tears can provide
instant relief.
Get an Eye Exam: If
you're working with an
undiagnosed condition like
myopia (nearsightedness),
or if your eyeglass
prescription is outdated,
you may be squinting at
the screen unknowingly.
An optometrist or
ophthalmologist can
diagnose any problems,
check your MPOD, and make
recommendations for your
eye health.
Use Computer Glasses: Some
eye doctors will suggest
the use of eyeglasses that
help your eyes focus at the
distance your computer
screen normally sits from
your eyes. These glasses are
not the same as blue light
glasses, which block blue
light from reaching your
retinas. The AAO says blue
light glasses are not proven
to help anyone and doesn't
recommend their use.
Use Artificial Tears
Get an Eye Exam
Use Computer Glasses
Try Supplements: If you
have low MPOD, eating food
high in lutein and zeaxanthin
can help increase your
macular pigment density.
These foods include greens
like kale or spinach and
yellow and orange foods like
corn or citrus. The American
Macular Degeneration
Foundation offers a helpful
chart of foods high in lutein
and zeaxanthin.5
If you can't
or won't eat enough of
these foods, supplements are
also available.
Extra Tips for Translators
and Interpreters
The specialized nature of
our work calls for some
specific measures to avoid
straining our eyes. See if
you can incorporate some
of the following practices
to give your eyes a break
during the workday:
Keep Your Paper
Dictionaries: Online access
to dictionaries is convenient,
but looking up words online
requires you to stare at the
screen. Give your eyes an
occasional break by pulling
your trusty old behemoths
out from under your monitor
and using them for their
intended purpose.
Adjust Contrast
Learn Touch Typing
Edit on Printouts: Many
translators prefer to edit
their work on paper because
they catch errors more easily
than they would on the
computer screen. Editing on
paper also allows your eyes
some time away from the
screen. The paper can then
be shredded and recycled to
keep your workspace clean
and landfills less crowded.
Adjust Your
Position
Learn Touch Typing: If you
never learned traditional
touch typing and need to look
at the keyboard and screen to
produce a translation, try to
learn this skill. You'll be able
to look away from the screen
while you work, saving your
eyes further strain. I even
like to type with my eyes
closed sometimes to give
them a break.
24 The ATA Chronicle | November/December 2022
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The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022

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