Have you ever experienced tired, dry or irritated eyes after spending several hours on your phone or computer? You are not alone. With increasing screen use at work, home and during leisure time, digital eye strain has become a common concern.
What Is Digital Eye Strain?
Digital eye strain refers to a group of eye and vision-related symptoms that can occur after prolonged use of computers, smartphones, tablets and other digital screens.
Common symptoms include:
- Eye tiredness
- Dryness or watering
- Burning or irritation
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Difficulty focusing
- Increased sensitivity to light
Why Does Screen Time Affect Our Eyes?
When we concentrate on a screen, we tend to blink less frequently. Blinking helps spread tears across the surface of the eye and keeps it comfortable.
Long periods of continuous screen use can therefore contribute to dryness and discomfort. Glare, poor lighting, improper screen distance and an unsuitable viewing position can make the symptoms worse.
Simple Ways to Protect Your Eyes
A few everyday habits can make screen use more comfortable:
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something approximately 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Remember to blink: Make a conscious effort to blink regularly while working on a screen.
Adjust your screen: Keep the screen at a comfortable distance and position it slightly below eye level.
Take regular breaks: Avoid spending long periods continuously staring at a screen.
When Should You See an Eye Specialist?
If eye strain, dryness, headaches or blurred vision continue despite improving your screen habits, an eye examination can help identify whether there is an underlying vision or ocular surface problem.
Healthy screen habits today can help keep your eyes comfortable for the long term.