These days everyone is staring at some sort of a screen all the time, it would seem, whether it be computers, mobile phones, or other digital devices. So, no wonder so many people have a problem called digital eye strain. It’s a group of multiple problems that are vision-related, and the level of discomfort caused by staring at a screen increases with the amount of time spent using digital screens. The most common symptoms are:
Luckily, there are steps you can follow to ease these annoying symptoms.
Proper Lighting
You can develop eye strain if there is too much bright light of either outdoor sunlight coming in or there are excessively bright indoor lights on while you’re using the PC/phone. The ambient lighting should be about half as bright as that found in a typical office, and make sure you position the computer properly so that the windows aren’t placed right in front or behind it. You should also take note that many people find their eyes less bothered when getting rid of excessive fluorescent overhead lighting and replacing it with soft LED lights.
Using Computer Glasses
Digital devices emit the so-called blue light, which is potentially harmful to your eyes. If you desire more comfort in front of the screen, blue light-blocking glasses are something you definitely should consider. You may benefit greatly from using these customized computer glasses, especially if you usually use contact lenses (which can get really dry and uncomfortable after a while of computer usage).
Display Upgrade
If you find that you’re spending a great amount of time on your PC, you should consider upgrading your display/monitor, especially if you’re still using a CRT monitor, upgrade to LED as soon as possible and make sure it has an anti-reflective surface. CRT monitors can cause eye strain because they cause a ‘flicker’ of images, and this flicker is even worse if you’re using a low refresh rate. So, you should also check if you’re using the highest refresh rate your display allows. Also, when choosing a new display, pick a display with the highest possible resolution.
Adjust Settings
Generally, people with eye strain problems have reported that adjusting the settings on their computers has helped them diminish the level of discomfort caused. Play around with brightness, your screen should be about as bright as your surroundings. If it looks like a light source, it’s probably too bright, and if it appears greyish you may have lowered the setting too much. Also, touch up the color temperature to suit you, and try to find the text size and contrast that seems easier to look at. Modifying those sliders to just the right setting may be of significant help in relieving all these eye strain problems.
Try to Blink More Often
It May sound funny, but blinking is very important when using the screen. Blinking helps moisten your eyes and stops them from getting too dry and irritated. The main problem is that people blink less often when staring at a display. If you experience the dry-eye problem very often, you can always check with a doctor and maybe have them prescribe artificial tears for use on a daily basis until the problem diminishes.
Eye Exercise
This is a fun tip. Considering that you may experience eye fatigue after using the display for a long time, you should try this exercise – every 20 minutes or so, look away from the screen and try to focus on a distant object for at least 20 seconds. Another exercise you can try is looking away at a far object for 10 seconds, then looking up for 10 seconds and going back to focusing on the far object. You should repeat this about ten times. It will relax the focusing muscle inside your eye and help relieve the fatigue. Also remember to blink often even when performing the exercise, to prevent ‘dry eye syndrome.
Take Breaks!
Maybe one of the most important things you should always have in mind, you should take frequent short breaks whenever you have to be in front of the screen for a long time. You should think about a 10-minute break every hour or so. Also, don’t just look away, stand up and stretch. Stretch your arms, neck, shoulders, back, and legs, it will do wonders reducing muscle fatigue. You’ll feel much better once you’re back in the chair, refreshed and ready to go on.
The bottom line is, we should all take some time and establish a routine to relieve ourselves from these issues and maintain good eyesight. It’s easier than it seems to incorporate these short tips and tricks we mentioned here into your everyday life, and it will mean a great deal for your overall eye health.
