You probably spend hours each day looking at screens, from the computer at work to the phone in your hand. After a while, you might notice your eyes feel tired, dry, or just uncomfortable. This feeling is often referred to as digital eye strain, and it’s become a common part of modern life.
You can reduce digital eye strain by combining simple daily habits with professional eye care, like a comprehensive eye exam, tailored to your screen-heavy lifestyle.
What Is Digital Eye Strain?
When your eyes feel achy after a long day of screen time, you may be experiencing digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome. It’s a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged use of computers, tablets, and phones.
Common symptoms you may notice include:
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Dry or watery eyes
- Tired or sore eyes
- Neck & shoulder discomfort
- Trouble with focus
10 Simple Tips for Your Eyes
You can make small changes to your daily routine to help reduce eye discomfort. Here are 10 practical tips to try when you use digital screens:
- Follow The 20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple habit gives your eyes a needed break.
- Adjust Your Screen Settings: Brightness, contrast, and text size can make a big difference. Try setting your screen brightness to match the light around you and making the text large enough to read easily.
- Blink More Often: People blink less when they look at screens. Make a conscious effort to blink fully and frequently to keep your eyes moist.
- Set Up Your Workspace: Position your computer screen about an arm’s length away. The top of the screen should be at, or slightly below, eye level.
- Reduce Screen Glare: Use an anti-glare screen filter or adjust your room’s light to avoid harsh reflections on your screen. You should also avoid setting up your computer or TV with a window directly behind it.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Good hydration helps your body produce tears, which keeps your eyes comfortable.
- Take Frequent Breaks: In addition to the 20-20-20 rule, get up and move around for a few minutes every hour. This helps your eyes and your body.
- Keep Your Distance: Hold smaller devices like phones and tablets farther from your eyes to reduce the effort needed to focus.
- Use Proper Light: Make sure your room has soft, ambient light. Avoid working in a very dark room or with light that shines directly into your eyes.
- Consider Computer Glasses: If you wear glasses, you can talk to an optometrist about lenses designed specifically for screen use.
How An Eye Exam Helps Your Screen Time
While these tips can offer relief, persistent discomfort might point to an underlying vision issue. A comprehensive eye exam is a key step to finding out why your eyes feel strained, especially if the symptoms don’t improve.
For example, an outdated prescription can force your eyes to work harder than they have to, especially when you focus on a screen. An exam confirms your vision correction is right for your digital lifestyle, which can make a noticeable difference.
An optometrist can check for subtle focus issues or eye alignment problems that get worse with screen use. A complete eye health exam provides a clear picture of your vision needs and helps find a path toward more comfortable screen time. An eye exam also includes checks for other health issues.
Custom Solutions for Digital Eye Strain
Your vision needs are unique to you. After an assessment, our team can suggest solutions tailored to your specific work, school, or hobbies. These treatments may include:
Specialty Lenses and Coatings
The constant refocusing that comes with using a digital screen can reveal focusing issues you would otherwise completely ignore. Specialized glasses can help your eyes relax while using a computer.
Talk to your optometrist about lens options that filter specific types of light or have glare-reducing coatings. These features can make your screen time more comfortable and are designed to fit the demands of a digital world.
Dry Eye Treatment
Digital eye strain and dry eye are often linked because you blink less when staring at a screen, which means you aren’t refreshing your tear film as much as you should. If you’re already living with dry eye symptoms, this small change can have a big impact on your eye comfort.
For those with gritty, burning, or watery eyes, professional dry eye treatment can help manage your symptoms effectively.
Get More From Your Digital Life
If you continue to experience discomfort while using digital screens, our team at Erie Shores Eyecare is ready to help. A comprehensive eye exam can determine if the cause is digital eye strain, an outdated prescription, or an underlying issue like dry eye.
Take the next step toward more comfortable vision. Book an appointment online to find solutions tailored to your digital life.
