Being a digital nomad has many perks! Aside from having the flexibility to manage your own time, you also get to see the world and experience things that working in a physical office wouldn’t allow. This is likely why the number of digital nomads continues to grow annually. As of 2024, Demand Sage estimates that there are about 35 million digital nomads working globally.
That said, being a digital nomad means you also have to take extra steps to care for your well-being. Research on remote working found that workers in this setup are more susceptible to several health issues, especially concerning their vision. Specifically, remote workers often develop issues like dry eyes, blurry vision, and eye fatigue. For digital nomads, this is a very real concern since most jobs are reliant on good vision. If left unchecked, these issues can become more serious and even get in the way of offline experiences, too. On that note, here are a few helpful eye-care tips for digital nomads:
Wear protective eyewear
More often than not, when digital nomads think of protective eyewear, they picture sunnies. This is understandable since sunglasses are crucial travel accessories that protect against harmful UV rays and harsh glare.
Popular brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley are some of the most popular because they can combine style and sun safety. However, another type of eyewear that digital nomads should invest in is blue light glasses. As seen on retailers like EyeBuyDirect, this type of eyewear uses special filters that block out harmful blue-violet wavelengths. This type of light can come from the sun and electronics, which is why digital nomads are at high risk of overexposure. Over time, blue light can cause issues with vision, concentration, sleep and moods. Blue light glasses can come with or without prescriptions, along with a variety of other features. These include being dust-repellant and water- and scratch-resistant, making them perfect for busy digital nomads and the environments they may be in.
Use ergonomic accessories
One of the biggest advantages of being a digital nomad is that virtually any location can become your workspace so long as there is Internet access. On the flip side, digital nomads usually have to make do with things like poor seating options and shoddy work surfaces. This can result in hunched posture, irregular circulation, and strained vision. One way to easily remedy this is to bring ergonomic accessories. For the eyes, portable items like laptop risers and monitor hoods can help. A riser can help elevate your screen to a more comfortable level so the eyes aren’t working overtime to focus. Meanwhile, hoods can be easily added to the tops of screens to block out any light that may cause squinting. In both cases, these accessories are usually lightweight and foldable, so they won’t take up much room, even if you’re only using a small wheelie suitcase—a common essential among digital nomads. Some manufacturers, like ObVus, even design their equipment so they can be useful for different body heights, ensuring the most tailored experience.
Consider health insurance
Health insurance is notoriously difficult to get among digital nomads who usually work freelance and have no long-term address. As such, those who are planning to settle somewhere for an extended period would benefit from having an insurance plan with vision coverage. According to a study from My Vision, the average person with some refractive eye issues can spend 100s on eye care per year. This additional expense can get larger or smaller depending on the country, which, for digital nomads, can be budget-breaking. Having insurance can better protect your funds since the monthly premium will already cover a host of vision-related procedures like exams and corrective tools. Digital nomads just need to double-check their host country’s insurance policies so it’s clear what paperwork, outside of a visa, is necessary.
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