VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS ( VDU'S )Screen fatigue is an uncomfortable condition brought about by spending prolonged periods staring at a screen. Typical symptoms include: tired or irritated eyes, blurred vision, headaches, double vision, changes in colour perception, sensitivity to light and dry eyes. Sufferers also may have trouble focusing on distant objects after using Display Screen Equipment (DSE) for any length of time. VDUs can also highlight any existing vision problem that a user may have – undiagnosed myopia, for example.  CLICK TO VIEW ANIMATION |
Your Rights If you regularly use a computer or VDU at work then, by law, your employer must: • Provide adequate breaks from intensive screen use. (These don’t have to be rest breaks, just different types of work.) • Provide a free sight test when you commence work and a regular intervals thereafter we recommend once every two years • You may also request a sight test paid for by your employer at any time if you are experiencing difficulties with your vision that you think may be attributable to computer or display screen use • Make a contribution towards the cost of any vision correction required solely for VDU work • Provide health and safety training on VDU use Ask your occupational health officer or HR representative about your employer’s eye care policy and how you can claim free sight tests. *Information adapted from ScreenSmart campaign |