You use computer and phone screens daily to do almost everything. You use them to work, to keep in contact with others, to relax, and to shop for groceries. The problem is that all this time spent in front of a screen is difficult on your eyes so it is very important to prevent computer and phone eye strain. Preventing computer and phone eye strain can be done by making some small changes to your daily routines or workstation.
How Do Computers and Phones Cause Eyestrain?
When we blink, tears spread evenly across our eyes to help keep them moist. But staring at a screen makes us blink half as often which can lead to dry or irritated eyes. Not only this, but you can even get Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) which is a repetitive stress injury which can be reduced by preventing computer and phone eye strain. You may not have thought a repetitive stress injury can occur to your eyes, but it can!
Your eyes are focusing and refocusing all the time when you work at a computer. As you read, your eyes move back and forth, they go up and down to view the screen and your papers, then back down the keyboard and back up again to the screen. Doing these seemingly simple tasks hundreds of times a day requires a lot of effort from your eye muscles. On top of all that, computer and phone screens add strain through contrasting text, flickers from refreshing pages, and glares from brightness levels.
Tips for Preventing Computer and Phone Eye Strain
Here are some tips for preventing computer and phone eye strain that you can do today in your home or office.
- Place your computer an arm’s length away from your face
- Adjust your computer or phone screen 10-15 degrees below eye level
- Use a matte screen filter to reduce glare
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes take 20 seconds to look at an object that is 20 feet away
- Take frequent breaks
- Blink frequently
- Use artificial tears when your eyes feel dry
- Put a humidifier in the room
- Have bright light in the room
- Get regular eye exams
Adjust Devices to Reduce Eye Strain from Screens
Not only can you change your physical environment for optimum eye health, but you can also make adjustments to your devices. These modifications to your computer or phone will help to reduce eye strain.
- Increase the contrast on your screen
- Increase the size of the text
- The brightness of the screen should be equal to your surroundings
- Lower the color temperature of your screen to give off less blue light
- Raise the refresh rate to decrease flickering
Keeping Your Eyes Healthy
Your eyes are very important to all aspects of your life – work, family, hobbies – so preventing computer and phone eye strain is essential. Making some minor adjustments to your screens can mean healthier eyes and less headaches, fatigue, and sensitivity. If you can quickly take some preventative measures to increase your eye health, why wouldn’t you?
Keeping your eyes healthy and preventing computer and phone eye strain should not just be on your list. You should also monitor your children and help them learn how to keep their eyes safe as well. Help them instill healthy habits for their eyes now.
While eye strain generally doesn’t lead to permanent damage, it can make you feel unpleasant. You are more likely to have problems with eye strain if you need glasses and don’t have them or if you are currently wearing the wrong prescription. If you feel that your eyes are straining, schedule an appointment with Dr. Barry Leonard today by calling 818-891-6711 or going online.
