5 Tips to relieve your Digital Eye Strain.
Digital Eye Strain is becoming a really big problem today. Most of us are glued to our digital devices more and more. If you are experiencing dry eye, twitching, or red eyes when using a digital device you may be suffering from Digital eye strain. Below are some quick tips to help relieve these symptoms.
1. 20-20-20 Rule:
Taking frequent breaks are needed especially if you are going to be working on your computer, laptop, or phone for an extended amount of time. Every 20 minutes you should look at something 20 feet for 20 seconds. What does this do? It gives your eye a chance to refocus on something in the distance and allows your eyes to relax.
2. Take a Break and Blink:
When looking at a smart phone or computer we tend to blink less, causing dry eye, irritation, gritty feeling, and twitching. Taking extended breaks to blink and refocus is a great way to avoid this. During these breaks you can do some blink exercises. These exercises are easy to do and you won't even break a sweat. First you blink a few times, then close your eyes, squeeze your eye lids together for 1...2...3, open you eyes and repeat as needed. You can also try blinking slowly during your breaks to re-wet your eyes.
3. Blue Light Filters:
Not many people are aware of a certain settings available in almost all of our devices. If you have recently updated your phones whether it be Android or Apple IOS your may notice a display setting called Night shit (IOS) or Blue light filter (Android). PC or MAC users you are not alone! On Windows 10 operating systems search for Night Light and Mac users should look for Night Shift. Blocking blue light equals less digital eye strain. Turing it on will make the screen have a warmer contrast to it, greatly reducing the blue light that it may dish out. It may not be very visually appealing but you are protecting your eyes.
4. Blue Light Blocking Lenses
Our phones and monitors emit a lot of Blue light, which can cause some digital eye strain and can also mess up your sleep cycle. You can change the settings to make you screen have a "warmer" look to it but if you need you screen to be clear all the time you have options. Blue blocking lens can reflect 80% or more blue light then normal lenses. Most blue blocking lenses are clear but there are a few that have a yellowish tint to them so make sure you get the right ones for your needs.
5. Adjust your screen
There are a few things that you can do to adjust your screen and reduce digital eye strain:
Keep glare down with matte filters on your screens, keep your devices away from windows and the glare of the sun.
Adjust the brightness and contrast on your screen
Keep you screens about arms length away and adjust you height to slightly higher then the center of your screen.
If you are buying a laptop or new monitor make sure it is over 19 inches.
Above all you should also have a comprehensive eye exam every year and discuss with your doctor the use of computer lenses. These lenses allow you to have clear and comfortable vision with any device that is arms length away. There are some computer lenses that will give you vision within your office space, make sure you discuss your situation with your doctor and optician.
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