How To Combat Digital Eye Strain

During a typical day, how much time do you spend in front of a screen, be it a computer, tablet, phone, or television?

For most adults, the answer is 11 hours on average. That's a lot of time spent in front of a screen, whether it's at work or in your free time. Despite the fact that staring at screens all day is unlikely to permanently damage your eyesight, you may develop a condition known as computer vision syndrome.

Dry eyes, hazy vision, and headaches are all signs of computer vision syndrome, often known as digital eye strain. In addition to irritating visual problems, you may also develop tech neck, which manifests itself as discomfort in the head, neck, and shoulders.

We all spend a lot of time staring at screens, but there are ways to reduce the damage done to your eyes.

Here are some of our favourite methods for relieving daily eye strain:

Perform an ergonomic assessment of your office

Ergonomics in the workplace is intended to do two things: make you more productive and make you feel more at ease while working. Pick a chair for your office that helps you maintain a healthy posture, one in which your head is held in a neutral position, and your upper body is supported.

Place your desktop display at or just below eye level and an arm's length away. Screens of all shapes and sizes can cause strain on the neck and eyes if not properly positioned in relation to the user's head. Displays work best when placed immediately in front of the user's face and just below eye level.

Modify the lighting

If you're using your smartphone in a bright setting, such as an office or outside, you might want to turn up the brightness. If you're in a dark room, turn down the light. Dust and smudges on the screen might increase reflection and should be cleaned periodically.

Blink your eyes more frequently

While blinking helps keep your eyes comfortable by spreading tears evenly over the cornea, people tend to blink less when they are engrossed in a digital device. When not staring at a screen, the average person blinks 15-20 times each minute.

The effects of digital eye strain may be mitigated by just paying more attention to how often you blink. The next time you're using a device or watching TV, make it a point to blink more frequently.

Regularly schedule breaks

Along with making an effort to blink more often, try scheduling regular breaks throughout the day to give your eyes a rest. The 20-20-20 rule suggests taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to focus on an object that is 20 feet away.

Make use of eyewear that filters out blue light

Sunlight contains blue light waves, but electronic equipment also generate significant amounts of blue light. Artificial blue light has been linked to eye tiredness and may even disrupt sleep patterns.

Glasses designed specifically for use with computers prevent harmful blue light. Digital eye strain can be alleviated by wearing blue light glasses when using electronic devices or watching television.