What is the 20-20-20 Rule? Protect Your Eyes with the Simplest, Easiest Methods

The 20-20-20 rule was created by an American ophthalmologist to help people who frequently work with electronic device screens protect their vision better. 

People who work regularly with computers, such as office workers (8-9 hours/day), freelancers (many hours on projects), technical staff (many hours on duty under different day-night conditions), etc., are often prone to eye and vision problems. Vietnam has about 4 - 6 million people experiencing dry eye conditions at various levels, and 60% of office workers suffer from eye diseases (according to VTV). 

Faced with this alarming situation, office workers can equip themselves with some easy-to-implement solutions to protect their eyes, including the 20-20-20 rule.

1. What is the 20-20-20 Rule?

This rule proposes a solution: Every 20 minutes spent looking at an electronic device screen, you should stop and look at a point about 20 feet (equivalent to 6.1 m) away for 20 seconds. 

2. How to apply the 20-20-20 rule

The 20-second interval is just enough for the eyes to take a temporary rest without causing a major disruption to your work.

Conversely, every 20 seconds of rest will give your eyes the freshness needed to achieve a high state of focus while working. Instead of worrying that these 20 seconds will be wasted, you can avoid the state of fatigue and stress caused by continuously looking at screens with harmful blue light. 

20 seconds can be counted manually, and the 20-minute intervals can be reminded by an alarm clock. Meanwhile, how will the distance of 20 feet, equivalent to 6.1 m, be measured? If you can define a distance exactly equal to 6.1 m, that is ideal. However, if you cannot estimate it, allow your eyes to look far away at a certain point in the office (a door, the opposite row of desks, a filing cabinet, a row of green plants, a hallway, a mini bar counter, etc.)

With today's fast-paced and vibrant office environment, it is difficult to have the time or remember to implement this rule.

Not only that, the 20-20-20 rule is also not a comprehensive method to help you avoid all eye problems (as there are many other causes such as physical condition, working hours, poor quality computer screens, etc.). However, this is still a manual method recommended by many doctors if you have a specific job related to electronic devices. 

In addition, office workers should also pay attention to creating a suitable working environment: combining natural and artificial light, having standard lighting devices with moderate power, limiting glare that causes eye strain and blurred vision, etc.

HyperWork has researched and developed its first desk-clamp LED lamp - HyperWork Luna, certified by authorities in Vietnam for its specifications and market circulation conditions:

- High color rendering index CRI>95, nearly equivalent to sunlight

- Maximum brightness 1000 Lumens

- Adjustable color temperature ranging from 2700-6500 Kelvin (for light colors from white - neutral - yellow)

- Wide lighting area up to 180 cm (lamp size 78x63 cm)

- Lamp power 24w

The product is suitable for personal workspaces, distributing light evenly, not distorting screen colors, not emitting UV rays, and containing no harmful substances. Non-flickering light will limit eye strain and glare. 

If you are an office worker who frequently interacts with computer screens for long periods, equip yourself with HyperWork Luna - wide-area lighting, instead of just lighting the screen area or keyboard and mouse like conventional screen-bar lamps.

In addition, some specific users performing tasks related to images, colors, and detail precision can also use HyperWork Luna. For example, media professionals (photo editing, film editing), manual workers (weaving, nail art, hand drawing), technical workers (engineers, technicians), and those doing paperwork, data entry, or research (writers, accountants, etc.).