Monitors placed too close or too far away may cause you to assume awkward body positions that can lead to eyestrain. Viewing distances that are too long can cause you to lean forward and strain to see small text. This can fatigue the eyes and place stress on the torso. Viewing distances that are too short may cause your eyes to work harder to focus and may require you to sit in awkward postures.
Bifocal users typically view the monitor through the bottom portion of their lenses. This causes them to tilt their head backward to see a monitor. As with a monitor that is too high, this can fatigue muscles that support the head.
Working with your head and neck turned to the side for a prolonged period tenses neck muscles unevenly and increases fatigue and pain.
How to Find Ergonomic Monitor Arms
Quick tips for your monitor arms
Sit at a comfortable distance from the monitor where you can easily read all text with your head and torso in an upright posture and your back supported by your ergonomic chair
The preferred viewing distance is between 20 and 40 inches from the eye to the front of the computer screen
Provide adequate desk space between the user and the monitor
Position your computer monitor with your monitor arms directly in front of you so your head, neck and torso face forward when viewing the screen. Monitors should not be farther than 35 degrees to the left or right
If you work primarily from printed material, place the monitor slightly to the side and keep the printed material directly in front. Keep printed materials and monitors as close as possible to each other
The top of the monitor should be at or slightly below eye level. The center of the computer monitor should normally be located 15 to 20 degrees below horizontal eye level
Elevate your line of sight by raising your office chair. Be sure that you have adequate space for your thighs under the computer desk and that your feet are supported
Lower the monitor so you can maintain appropriate neck postures. You may need to tilt the monitor screen up toward you
Raise the chair height until you can view the monitor without tilting your head back. You may have to raise the keyboard tray and use a foot rest