VDU SCREENING
EMPLOYER / EMPLOYEE INFORMATION

Legal Entitlement:

Since 1993 EC legislation has placed responsibilities on employers whose employees regularly use computers as part of their work, no matter whether they work in an office or from home.  If you are classified as a computer user your employer must:

• Provide a full examination free of charge when you start working and at regular intervals after that (every two years is recommended by the Association of Optometrists Ireland).
• Provide a full eye examination free of charge if you are experiencing visual problems which may be due to working with a computer.
• Pay for a pair of basic glasses (or equivalent amount towards the cost of glasses of your choice) if it is shown that you require them specifically for computer use.
• Provide adequate breaks or changes of activity to reduce general visual fatigue.
• Provide health and safety training information relating to the workstation.  Keep you informed of any new relevant regulations.

The causes of eye problems among computer users are:

• Insufficient and infrequent rest periods.
• Incorrect positioning of the screen and/or documents.
• Unsuitable lighting.
• Poor work station design.
• Problems with the screen - i.e. glare, distortion, resolution.
• An uncorrected eyesight problem - i.e. astigmatism, presbyopia, or binocular balance problems.
• Using the wrong type of glasses.
• Fatigue.
• A combination of any of the above.