Reduce Strain on Your Eyes

Digital devices are an everyday reality for 96% of Americans. Unfortunately, with the increase in digital device use comes an increase in the prevalence of digital eye strain. If you experience headaches, blurred vision, or dry eyes after working on a digital screen, you may have digital eye strain.

The good news is that digital eye strain has no long-term repercussions for your eye health, and there are some simple steps you can take to soothe your symptoms. However, some digital eye strain symptoms are very similar to other eye conditions, so it’s always safest to get advice from an eye care professional.

Our team at Total Vision in Rancho Bernardo is here to help. If you think you may have digital eye strain, please give us a call. We can rule out underlying causes and help you achieve comfortable vision, even while working on a screen.

Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain

Common symptoms of digital eye strain include:

Sore, tired, burning, or itching eyes
Watery or dry eyes
Blurred or double vision
Headache
Sore neck, shoulders, or back
Sensitivity to light
Difficulty concentrating
The feeling that you can’t keep your eyes open

Causes of Digital Eye Strain

“Digital eye strain” is actually a bit of a misnomer, as it’s not the digital device that causes the strain. Rather, it’s focusing on one task for prolonged periods that causes the issue. You can also experience eye strain when writing or reading without a break or driving long distances.Looking at a digital screen for 2 hours or longer is one of the most common causes of eye strain because a digital screen makes your eyes work harder. Poor lighting, poor posture, glare on your screen, and uncorrected vision problems can also exacerbate digital eye strain symptoms.

Preventing Digital Eye Strain

Some evidence suggests that simply giving your eyes a break can help reduce eye strain. To do this, try following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. These frequent breaks give your eyes a chance to refocus, relax, and readjust.

You can also reduce eye strain by making some simple changes to your workspace:

Reduce glare on your computer screen by using an anti-glare screen.
Change the lighting in your environment to reduce contrast with your computer screen.
Adjust your screen brightness or contrast to match your environment.

Correct your computer posture to reduce strain on your neck and back.

Book Your Appointment Today!

If you’re still experiencing digital eye strain, even after making the suggested adjustments, please book an appointment with our eye care team today.

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