March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month, and it’s a great time to check in on your eye health! With more people than ever staring at screens for hours each day, digital eye strain has become a reality for many of us. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at digital eye strain, including the symptoms, common causes, and prevention tips.
What is digital eye strain?
Digital eye strain (also known as computer vision syndrome) is a group of symptoms that result from excessive use of digital devices such as computers and tablets. Symptoms can include headaches, blurred vision, fatigue, dry eyes, and neck/shoulder pain. People who spend two or more hours a day looking at screens are most likely to experience digital eye strain.
Common causes of digital eye strain
There are several factors that contribute to digital eye strain, including:
- Poor lighting conditions such as bright overhead lights or glare from windows
- Improper viewing distance (sitting too close or too far away from the screen)
- Incorrect posture while using the device such as not sitting up straight
- Uncorrected vision problems
- Not taking enough breaks from looking at the screen
Preventing digital eye strain
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of experiencing digital eye strain. Make sure you adjust your monitor settings so that the brightness matches your work environment. You should also take frequent breaks throughout the day. A good rule of thumb is to look away from the screen for 20 seconds every 20 minutes and focus on an object at least 20 feet away.
Additionally, be sure to blink often during screen time to prevent dry eyes. It’s also important to maintain proper posture while using your device. Keep your head and neck in alignment rather than slouching forward or craning your neck up or down while looking at the screen.
Taking steps to prevent digital eye strain can help us stay healthy when we’re using our devices for long periods each day. That said, no amount of prevention measures can replace regular comprehensive eye exams with an optometrist—so make sure you schedule exams regularly! Doing so will help ensure that any underlying vision issues are caught before they lead to bigger problems down the line.
It’s clear that our reliance on technology has had an impact on our physical health—including our eyes! If you’re experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain, don’t hesitate to schedule an eye exam at our office in Newport, ME, or Waterville, ME.
