Portage Vision Services

04/01/2026

Allergy season is here, but don’t worry, we’ve got some tips to help you get through.

▪️ Stay indoors if possible during allergy season

▪️ Wash hands, shower and change clothes after coming in from outside

▪️ Keep the windows closed in the home and car

▪️ Turn on the air conditioner

▪️ Use an air purifier

▪️ Maintain clean filters in the furnace

▪️ Change towels, pillow cases and bedsheets often

Cold compresses and preservative-free eye drops may provide relief from red and itchy eyes.

If ocular symptoms persist, consult your optometrist. Allergy and steroid eye drops may be prescribed to treat the symptoms.

Talk to your optometrist to learn more about allergies.

03/30/2026

Did you know improper viewing distance and poor posture can cause eye strain?

Practice correct posture and position your computer screen/laptop at a comfortable distance to avoid digital when strain while at work or home.

03/27/2026

Occupational Vision Programs provide Canadian workers with corrective safety eyewear to the highest standards. The programs include services that design, verify and fit safety eyewear to meet the functional requirements of the workplace.

In addition, workers have access to comprehensive vision care services that prevent, detect, manage and treat vision problems.

During an eye exam, the optometrist can provide a range of services such as writing a safety eyewear prescription, detecting job-related eye strain (e.g., computer vision syndrome), managing age-related vision changes (e.g., presbyopia), and offering advice on vision-related workplace safety.

For further information on the Occupational Vision Program in your province, please click on the links below.

https://www.optometrists.mb.ca/patients/your-eyes-and-your-world/safety-eyewear

03/25/2026

03/23/2026

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03/13/2026

Checked off all the boxes? It's time to give your eyes a break.

If you feel you are experiencing digital eye strain contact your optometrist

03/11/2026

1. Take regular breaks

Give your eyes a break according to the 20-20-20 rule to avoid eye strain and dry eyes. Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look far away at a scene at least 20 feet away.

2. Remember to blink

We blink less when we are looking at screens, which can dry out the front surface of the eye. Blinking plays an important part of maintaining a healthy ocular surface. Pair this tip with when you are taking regular breaks from the screen.

3. Use artificial tear drops

In addition to taking breaks and blinking more, eye drops can provide relief to the eyes. Consult your optometrist to determine which eye drops are the best for you.

4. Computer glasses

In some cases, individuals may benefit from having a pair of computer glasses that help with focusing on screens.

5. Reduce the glare

Keep screens free of fingerprints and dust, as both can reduce visual clarity. Adjust screens to minimize glare from external sources such as the window and other light source.

6. Adjust the screen

Set the font size, contrast and brightness of the screen to suit the comfort of your eyes. For example, increase the font size if it is too small to read and match the brightness of the screen with your surroundings. For computers, position the screen greater than arm’s length (>50cm) from your eyes and 20 degrees below eye level.

As our reliance on digital devices increase, it is important for us to become more cognizant of our behavior when using screens and establish good habits for better eye health. If you are experiencing computer vision syndrome or would like to learn more, visit your doctor of optometry for an eye exam.

03/09/2026

Many devices are used at a close range from our eyes, such as laptops, computers, tablets, phones, and handheld gaming console.

In order to see these screens at a short distance, the muscles of our eyes need to contract to allow for accommodation (the ability to focus our eyes allowing us to see clearly) and convergence (the ability to move our eyes inwards allowing us to see a single image).

Overtime, with prolonged screen use, the muscles in our eyes can become fatigued causing our focusing ability to spasm. This strain on our eyes can lead to symptoms of computer vision syndrome such as headaches, blurry vision, and double vision.

When we are looking at a screen, we are concentrated on the work material or TV show that we are watching which causes us to stare. Staring leads us to reduce how often we blink to about only 4 times per minute from the average norm of 17 times per minute.

The decreased blink rate will cause the surface of our eyes to dry out leading to the symptoms above.

Our eyes could be exerting extra effort to maintain a clear image during screen use.

Having an uncorrected eye prescription, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia can all make screen use less comfortable and efficient.

Underlying vision problems that may be otherwise unnoticed can be precipitated with increased visual demands during screen use.

Even people with perfect vision may experience symptoms of computer vision syndrome with prolonged screen use.

03/06/2026

Many of us spend a good deal of our time staring at screens from laptops, computers, smartphones, gaming systems and television.

This can put a lot of strain on our eyes and cause eye fatigue. When using your screens, remember to give your eyes regular breaks.

So what can you do?

Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away.

03/04/2026

👷⚠️Avoid or minimize unnecessary hazards by removing falling or loose debris.

👷‍♀️⚠️Before starting, make sure that tools work.
Always check the safety features (machine guards) on equipment before using.

👷⚠️Make sure that all workers especially volunteers know how to use tools.

👷‍♀️⚠️Keep bystanders out of the hazard area.
Identify the biggest hazards at the site.
Identify hazards posed by other workers, machinery.

👷⚠️Wear the proper eye and face protection.
Make sure your eye protection fits properly and will stay in place.

👷‍♀️⚠️Brush, shake, or vacuum dust and debris from hardhats, hair, forehead, or the top of the eye protection before removing the protection.