On average, American adults stare at digital screens for 444 minutes or 7.4 hours per day. This number could be broken down into 147 minutes of watching TV, 103 minutes in front of a computer, 43 minutes playing with tablet, and 151 minutes using a smartphone. Canada ranks no better, spending up to 376 hours on the digital screen. In this modern age, our life revolves around technology. Emails, phone calls, Skype sessions are part of our life – and it is hurting our eyes. We seek to minimize the effects of technology on our patients’ eyes health. In this article, we’ll inform you about the precautions and remedies you can do to help protect your eyes.
Digital eye strain is defined as the physical discomfort felt after two or more hours in front of a digital screen. It occurs when your eyes are repeatedly exposed to digital screen at a close or mid-range distances.
The symptoms of digital eye strain could be any of the below:
- Irritated or sore eyes
- Focus problems
- Watery or dry eyes
- Double or blurred vision
- Pink eyes
- Increased light sensitivity
- Headaches
You could experiences a combination of the symptoms, and these could worsen overtime if no action is taken. To eliminate these symptoms, the first thing that you will need to do is to identify the sources of stress to your eyes.
After identifying the root of the problem, you could try following a few simple remedies:
1. Get a comprehensive eye exam
Getting a routine check up is a great way to prevent and treat digital eye strain. Your doctor will be able to identify the root of the problems, and take the necessary steps to fix and prevent it in the future.
2. Fix your workspace lighting
The wrong lighting could strain your eyes when using your electronics as excessive bright lights from indoors and outdoors could easily tire your eyes. Choose a lower intensity bulbs that are bright enough, and ensure that you have a blind to block disproportionate sunlight.
3. Minimize glare from your screen
Glare on walls, glossy surfaces, glasses, and digital screens could exacerbate your eye conditions and destroy your retina. To avoid this, try installing an anti-glare filter to your electronics, wear sunglasses outside, and choose a matte finish for your walls to prevent reflections.
4. Adjust your electronics display
Similar to wrong lightings, your electronics are the common sources of excessive lightings. Adjust the brightness of the display to match your surrounding workstation. More, also adjust text size and contrast to avoid focusing and pressuring your eyes.
5. Do a routine to exercise your eyes
The most effective method to avoid hurting your eye is to routinely take mini breaks from your workspace and exercise your eyes. Blinking is the most efficient exercise as it produces tears and moves your eye muscles. You could also focus on a far away object for 10-15 seconds to re-focus and relax your eyes.
6. Consider computer eyewear
Similar to anti-glare filter, computer eyewear is ideal for those who mainly work in front of the computer. Computer eyewear hinders the entry of blue light to your eyes. It is recently found that blue light is harmful to your retina when accumulated.
If your symptoms persist, contact a professional immediately. We are always happy to consult with you and offer you the best solutions to improve the health of your eyes. Please feel free to contact us at (905) 850 2400 or at info@drbrianabrams.com to book an appointment.
