Just 2 hours in front of a digital screen can cause your eyes to feel strained and dried out. The average Australian spends 10 hours a day staring at some form of screen. This is not surprising given the increased dependency of computers, tablets and mobile devices for work and school.
The problem occurs when you begin experiencing eye strain, dry eyes, headaches and neck pain.
These symptoms often come from:
- Poor lighting
- Screen glare and blue light
- Improper viewing distance from devices
- Not blinking enough
- Poor posture
Digital eye strain affects all age groups but can be relieved by following a few easy steps.
1. USE THE 20-20-20 RULE
Each time you use your digital device, take a 20-second break from the screen every 20-minutes and look at something 20-feet away.
2. POSITION YOUR COMPUTER MONITOR
Keep your computer monitor at arm’s length for proper viewing distance and have the top of the monitor near or below eye level to avoid straining your eyes and neck.
3. BLINK OFTEN
Remind yourself to blink frequently to avoid your eyes drying out. Each time you blink, you shield the moisture from evaporating from your eyes.
4. DON’T MISS YOUR EYE TESTS
Unattended eye conditions may worsen digital eye strain. Make sure you have regular comprehensive eye tests every year, regardless of whether you are a heavy digital device user or not.
5. CONSIDER COMPUTER GLASSES
Computer glasses are a popular way to decrease symptoms of digital eye strain. They look like regular glasses but feature a protective lens coating that helps filter out Harmful Blue Light from reaching your eyes, keeping your eyes relaxed.