Digital eyestrain is a common eye condition that occurs when the eyes get tired during or after digital device use.
It causes eye discomfort with symptoms such as:
- Burning or itchy eyes
- Dry or watery eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Headaches
- Neck, shoulder and back ache
- Difficulty concentrating
Because digital eyestrain is very uncomfortable and can affect work productivity, many people want to do away with it. Are you one of them?
If you are a heavy digital device user, it may be difficult to completely avoid eyestrain but you can significantly reduce the frequency of occurrence and severity with these 7 tips.
1. Treat existing eye problems (if any)
Untreated eye conditions like hypermetropia, astigmatism and presbyopia can trigger and worsen digital eyestrain.
People who are very comfortable with the mild forms of these conditions have been known to develop eyestrain the moment they start spending time on their devices. This is because digital devices place a greater demand on the eyes than printed materials.
So, if you have not done an eye exam recently and experience eyestrain symptoms frequently, visit the clinic for diagnosis and treatment. We will resume for the year on Wednesday, 4th January 2023.
2. Get a desk and chair that would enable you to maintain a good posture while using your computer.
Poor posture such as raising your head up, bending your neck down, or slouching while using your digital devices can lead to eyestrain.
While poor posture could be a habit, for most people it is often caused by using inappropriate desks and seats.
If this is your situation, get a good desk and seat to maintain a good posture.
3. Assess the lighting in your workspace and improve on it this holiday (if necessary)
How is the lighting in your office?
Do you need more or less light to see better?
Is the light positioned in front or behind your screen?
Check and make the necessary adjustments.
4. Learn how to adjust your screen resolution, brightness, colour temperature and font size to levels that are comfortable for you
The screen shouldn’t be too bright.
Set to warmer temperatures to reduce blue light emission
Increase font size so that you would not need to squint or strain to see.
5. Learn how to blink consciously and take breaks while using digital devices
Blinking is often a reflex action. But people tend to stare while using digital devices and so do not blink enough. For eye comfort, you must learn to blink consciously and take breaks at regular intervals while using your digital devices.
6. Make effort to sleep better and get started tonight
Starting your day with well-rested eyes can help reduce eyestrain compared to when you start the day with tired and red eyes due to poor sleep.
So try to sleep better. Do not wait. Start tonight.
If you struggle to sleep and do not know what to do about, you may find the Healthy Sleep Tips by Sleep Foundation helpful. Click HERE to learn more.
7. Get our Blue UV protection glasses to protect your eyes.
Blue light scatters more easily and causes more light sensitivity than other wavelengths of visible light. This makes the eyes work harder to focus when exposed to blue light leading to eyestrain.
To minimize eyestrain, protect your eyes against blue light especially the harmful blue-violet spectrum, with our Blue UV protection glasses.
To get the blue UV blocking glasses, order now or pick up them up at our clinic in Surulere.
To order now, click HERE or send a WhatsApp message to 08057432289 or 09134343630.
