These days, with stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 outbreak, more and more people are joining video calls - both for work and to connect with friends and family. And all the increased time on screens can really take a toll on your eyes. At Clear Eyes we’re here to help you look and feel your best, no matter who you are chatting with.

Here are some tips for you to feel more comfortable during video calls:

Test the technology first.

If you have never used video call software before, do a practice call first, either with the person who invited you or with a tech-savvy friend or family member. This gives you a chance to go over the important settings around sound and video. Learn where the mute button is, how to connect headphones and still hear and be heard, and how to participate in the call with or without video.

We know many people are uncomfortable seeing themselves on camera. But don’t worry!  From our recent experiences, we can tell you that everyone is just happy to see each other and connect—no matter what they look like.

Choose an optimal space for comfort and connection.

Find a quiet area in your home—or even on a patio or balcony as long as your WiFi connection is still strong. You’ll want good lighting so you don’t look like you’re about to tell a spooky story at a campfire, and comfortable seating. You’ll also want to place your smartphone, laptop or tablet—whichever you’re using—in a stable spot at or near eye level so your entire face is onscreen and you seem like you are looking at the people you’re talking to. Before the call starts, take a look behind you to make sure nothing embarrassing ends up on camera. You might also want to warn family members that you will be on a call, so they don’t interrupt or embarrass you.

Dress for success.

If you’re joining a video call with work colleagues, dress at least your top half in a shirt that is somewhat professional. No one is expecting you to dress formally, but you should probably change out of your pajamas.

Choose a shirt without stripes or busy patterns because these can be distracting on camera. Certain colors, like neons, bright white or black can make your device’s light settings auto-adjust, which can dim the light around your face and make your face hard to see.  In every video call, you’ll want to be sure you’re happy with how your hair looks because wearing a hat—even on a call with friends—isn’t a good choice unless you want a shadow over your face.

Prepare and protect your eyes.

If you work from home or are helping children with distance learning and have been looking at a screen all day, you might be suffering from eye redness and irritation. And when your eyes don’t look and feel their best, it’s hard to be your best.   Try putting in eye drops about 10 minutes before your call to relieve redness, irritation and dryness so you can be free to focus on your call.

Our Clear Eyes® Triple Action formula relieves redness while calming irritation and dryness, with up to 12 hours of soothing comfort . It also lubricates the eyes to help protect against further irritation and dryness. Likewise, if your call lasts more than 30 minutes and you didn’t put eye drops in beforehand, you will probably want to use eye drops afterward to relieve any eye irritation caused by staring at one spot or not blinking enough during your call.

Remember, we’re all in the same boat right now, doing our best to stay connected and make it through this challenging time. Video calls can feel a bit awkward at first, but remember that they are a great way to connect with colleagues and loved ones who you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.