The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022 - 25

Use Your Voice: Many
translators prefer to
dictate their translations
using software like Dragon
Naturally Speaking. If you
read the source text on paper
and dictate the translation,
your eyes won't have to work
so hard.
Opt for Phone Calls Rather
than Zoom or Skype: Use
video conferencing when
it makes sense, but if you
don't need to share screens
or look at information
together during your talk,
using the phone may be the
better option.
Try Add-Ins and Extensions:
Device settings on computers,
tablets, phones, and
e-readers can be adjusted
to increase yellow light and
decrease blue light use. While
these settings are helpful,
you may want additional
options. Blue light filtering
programs6
are available in
both free and paid versions,
and browser add-ins can
offer additional options
while conducting online
searches. Lately, I've been
playing with Screen Shader,
a Google Chrome extension
that allows me to customize
the pixel settings on most
pages opened in my Chrome
browser. Other add-ons may
be available for Edge and
Safari, and some programs
can be operated in dark mode,
which may be easier on your
eyes over long periods.
These measures should
help protect your eyes
from digital eyestrain
and potential damage like
cataracts or age-related
macular degeneration.
They will also help regulate
exposure to yellow and blue
light, which can help you
www.ata-chronicle.online
Since the pandemic drove large swathes of employees
and students to remote work and virtual learning,
experts have stepped up warnings about the possible
adverse health effects of ubiquitous screen use,
especially for our eyes.
stay alert during the day and
sleep better at night.
In short, paying attention
to what you're looking at will
improve your life, both
personally and professionally.
You might improve your
sleep patterns, improve
your diet by adding foods
high in lutein and
zeaxanthin, protect your
vision in both the shortNOTES
1
and
long-term, and make
your working hours more
productive by reducing
strain on your eyes. While
the jury is still out on some
of the causes and effects of
excessive screen exposure,
especially those related to
blue light, taking steps to
protect your eyes from
excessive strain can only
help you in the long run.
" MPOD-Macular Pigment Ocular Density " (Vision
Source, 2022). Also see: Kar, Deepon. " The Role of
Macular Pigment Optical Density in Ocular Health, "
Retina (August 2022).
2
Heesterbeek, Thomas J., Laura Lorés-Motta, Carel B.
Hoyng, Yara T. E. Lechanteur, and Anneke I. den Hollander.
" Risk Factors for Progression of Age-Related Macular
Degeneration, " Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics (February
2020). Also see: Lew, Drake W., Pinakin Gunvant Davey,
Dennis L. Gierhart, and Richard B. Rosen. " A Systematic
Review of Carotenoids in the Management of Age-Related
Macular Degeneration, " Antioxidants (August 2021).
3
4
5
Symptoms and Causes of Eyestrain (Mayo Clinic).
Click here to learn more about the Pomodoro Technique.
Chart of Lutein and Zeaxanthin Concentration in Fruits and
Vegetables (American Macular Degeneration Foundation).
6
Tengyuen, Ngan. " 9 Free Blue Light Filters for Desktop
Windows PC, Apple Mac, and Chrome Browser " (Gecko &
Fly, January 2022).
Danielle Maxson, CT has been translating
since 2009 and specializes in medical translation
with a focus on patient records. She is an ATAcertified
Portuguese>English and Spanish>English
translator. She is also chair of ATA's Business
Practices Education Committee and one of the blogmasters for
Next Level: The ATA Business Practices Blog. Before focusing
on translation, she worked as a Spanish teacher and a
medical interpreter. dmaxson@dmaxsontranslates.com
American Translators Association 25

https://visionsource-insightoptometry.com/vision-care-and-products/mpod-what-it-is-and-why-its-important/ https://visionsource-insightoptometry.com/vision-care-and-products/mpod-what-it-is-and-why-its-important/ https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/role-of-macular-pigment-optical-density-in-ocular-health/ https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/role-of-macular-pigment-optical-density-in-ocular-health/ https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/role-of-macular-pigment-optical-density-in-ocular-health/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/opo.12675 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/opo.12675 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/opo.12675 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/opo.12675 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/opo.12675 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/8/1255/htm https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/8/1255/htm https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/8/1255/htm https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/8/1255/htm https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/symptoms-causes/syc-20372397 https://francescocirillo.com/products/the-pomodoro-technique https://www.macular.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/lutein.pdf https://www.macular.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/lutein.pdf https://www.geckoandfly.com/21437/blue-light-filter/ https://www.geckoandfly.com/21437/blue-light-filter/ https://www.geckoandfly.com/21437/blue-light-filter/ http://www.ata-chronicle.online

The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022