Out of focus eyeballs (my tired old eyes)

This weekend I was processing images I took at my daughter's cross country team time trials. After working on them for 4 or 5 hours (I've gotta' get a faster computer!!!) I was getting frustrated as hell because all my images were out of focus. The lighting was horrible at the time trials, but I felt like I should at least be able to take photos that are in focus. I finally gave up in frustration.

Well.... the next day when I took another look all those out of focus images looked great, it was my tired old eyes that were out of focus.

So, I'm open to suggestions for reducing eye strain when I'm working on my photos for several hours at a time. Do you guys who do this all the time work in a well lit room, darkened room, or what? I suppose it would be a good idea to take frequent breaks, but once I get going on something I tend to get on a roll and don't like to quit 'till I'm finished.

Maybe a new monitor will help. What are you using now?

One of the biggest things that I find helps to keep my eyeballs from bleeding while working on a computer all day (and night, and the next day, with limited breaks) is to get something for your eyes to focus on that is at a different distance than your primary monitor. Even having a dual monitor setup where the secondary is off to the side so you have at least a few more inches so your eyes shift focus, will go a VERY long way to keeping your eyes from bugging out on you.

Personally I tend to use a TV with random channels on across the room. Music videos or the News usually. I'll look over at it now and then to see what is on.


Using well adjusted monitors also goes a long way. Most monitors are far too bright, and staring into a bright screen in a dark room is painful after awhile. Dim monitor in a dark room however? I'll stare at it for ages.

(I hold a BSc with a major in Computer Sciences. So, staring into computer screens for hours on end was basically a requirement of my education.)

http://www.allaboutvis​ion.com/cvs/irritated.​htm

DavidR wrote in post #14856656
Maybe a new monitor will help. What are you using now?

http://www.allaboutvis​ion.com/cvs/irritated.​htm

(From the link:
If you have not already done so, replace your old tube-style monitor (called a cathode ray tube or CRT) with a flat-panel liquid crystal display (LCD), like those on laptop computers.

LCD screens are easier on the eyes and usually have an anti-reflective surface. Old-fashioned CRT screens can cause a noticeable "flicker" of images, which is a major cause of computer eye strain. Even if this flicker is imperceptible, it still can contribute to eye strain and fatigue during computer work.)

Yes, I'm using a CRT (it just refuses to die). But NOW I have a reason to finally upgrade, how can my wife argue with the experts?

edit:
Another question - which is preferred, an LED or LCD monitor?

For processing images you should be looking at monitors with an IPS panel. LED is newer technology and would probably be better.

LED is merely the light source used in a some (most modern?) LCD monitors. Basically they are a red sports car. The fact that it is red doesn't change anything in and of itself, what actually matters is the performance of the sports car.

Generally they are cooler and use less energy than previous light source options, but they can also produce more colour cast that needs to be corrected.

LEDs are just another light source. From what I have seen so far, most have more even light over the panel (A flat gray will be evenly gray all over, not lighter/darker in different areas. Monitors are never 100% perfect, but better ones are far harder to notice the shift.) but it is not always the case.

Good luck in your hunt for new hardware. I have a degree in computer sciences, and close to two decades of experience using computers on a daily basis for extended periods of time. Dual monitors work great because they force the eye to change focus more as you work. (Even more than a single large monitor of similar total area) So you can use that to help convince your wife that you should go with a two monitor setup for improved work flow.

groundloop wrote in post #14856592
So, I'm open to suggestions for reducing eye strain when I'm working on my photos for several hours at a time.

Get your eyes tested and mention this problem. As your eyes get older they find it harder to adjust for close focus (presbyopia). It gets worse in dim light and if you're forcing them to focus closely for long periods. A friend had the same problem and got a pair of specs specifically for use when working with a PC. It's totally cured the regular headaches he suffered from.

I've had glasses for 8 years now (and I still hate wearing the damned things). I was in denial at first, I'd had perfect vision my whole life but my arms just weren't long enough to be able to read magazines anymore. When I go for my eye exam this year I'm going to look into getting a pair just for computer use, I hadn't really thought of that before.

I work on a computer all day. I constantly look at the ceiling, across the room, out the window to make sure that my eyes adjust to different focal points otherwise they get tired fast. I consider it like sitting in a car 8 hours and then trying to walk...takes a bit, but if you use them every now and again adjusting is easier and will create less strain.