We all heard it growing up from Mom, “Don’t sit too close to the TV, you’ll go blind!” Yet most of us now spend most of our days staring at a screen a couple of feet away from our faces. Certainly Mom would not approve of that!
Hyperbole aside, Mom was onto something. Viewing a computer or digital screen is hard work for your eyes and related vision problems are a real eye health issue. Digital Eye Strain or Computer Vision Syndrome are just two conditions relating to how your eyes perceive light and how they focus and track movement. Consequently, many individuals are susceptible vision-related symptoms, such as eyestrain, blurred vision, and dry eye; all of which can accompanied by headaches, and neck and shoulder pain. Additionally, the environment in which a digital device is viewed is a key factor in Digital Eye Strain. Poor lighting, screen glare, improper distances and posture as well as harmful blue light exposure ALL create the same stressors for your eyes.
To help with digital eye strain, try following the 20-20-20 rule:
Take a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away every 20 minutes.
It’s not always easy to remember to do, so find something stationary to focus on that you can easily use throughout the day.
Another helpful hint for reducing eye strain: Rest your eyes for 15 minutes after two hours of continuous screen use.
Diagnosis and treatment of screen-related vision problems can vary greatly from patient to patient. The optometrists at Metro Eye are experts in Digital Eye Strain. Receiving regular eye care and being aware of how you view the screen are the first step in prevention and treatment.
If your eyes are feeling discomfort after using a digital screen after an extended session, it might be a good time to set up an appointment with one of the highly knowledgeable and compassionate optometrists at Metro Eye. Call us today at 414-727-5888.