In addition to postural ergonomics, visual ergonomics is also an important aspect to consider in dentistry. Here’s why — and how to achieve it.
In general terms, ergonomics as a science is related to optimizing working conditions and promoting occupational health. For a dentist, ergonomics seeks to organize their work in a way that achieves maximum performance and comfort with minimal physical and psychological effort.
Visual ergonomics, in turn, focuses on establishing a set of measures aimed at adapting the work environment to each person’s visual needs and preventing eye disorders, maintaining optimal visual comfort, and achieving maximum visual performance.
The main factors that influence visual ergonomics are:
Body posture and movements performed at the workstation
Time spent on the task
The level of precision and concentration required
Lighting
Object size
Detail contrast
These last three are the most decisive in dental clinical practice: the oral cavity is dark, the object to be observed is small, and the contrast of details on dental surfaces is very low.
The consequences of not maintaining good visual ergonomics include:
Visual fatigue (asthenopia)
Blurred vision
Reduced visual performance
Headaches
Development of refractive errors (such as myopia or tension-related astigmatism)
Eye irritation and dryness
Below are a few visual and postural hygiene guidelines that can help you take care of your vision and overall health on a daily basis:
Working distance: Maintaining an adequate working distance helps prevent eye strain. The closer we position ourselves, the more effort our eye’s focusing mechanism (the accommodative muscle) must make, leading to eye fatigue. A good and simple reference is the distance between the elbow and the tip of the thumb. Any close-up activity performed without respecting this distance will demand more effort than the visual system can sustain effectively without causing fatigue.
Posture: The back, neck, and arms should remain in a relaxed and healthy position. For tasks requiring long hours in the same posture, it is advisable to take short breaks and walk around briefly to avoid muscle strain.
Lighting: Ambient lighting should have adequate intensity, and it is recommended to use specific lighting that directly illuminates the work area.
Time: Every 30 minutes of activity requiring significant close-up vision effort, it is advisable to take a 2-minute break, relaxing your eyes by focusing on a distant point. This simple exercise helps the visual system relax and reduces the onset of visual fatigue.
Nutrition: Diet directly affects vision. It is recommended to follow a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, and to stay properly hydrated.
It is very important to be familiar with equipment designed ergonomically to meet the needs of dental professionals, helping them work under optimal postural and visual conditions. At Víttrea, you’ll find personalized advice tailored to you.