Time to Relax Your Eyes

Most of us use screens daily, but too much time in front of digital devices can make your eyes tired. This phenomenon may be a sign of digital eye strain (or DES).

Anyone can experience DES, but people with existing vision problems tend to have the worst symptoms. Fortunately, our team at i-Care Optometry can help you reduce the effects of DES and use your screens comfortably again.

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Digital Eye Strain Symptoms

The following symptoms may be signs of DES if you experience them during or after using a device:

Headaches
Stiffness (usually in the neck or shoulders)
Trouble focusing your vision
Dry eyes

What Causes Digital Eye Strain?

Digital eye strain may be linked to several habits. These include:

Infrequent Blinking

Most people blink less when looking at screens, which means our eyes become dry more quickly and start to feel fatigued.

Sustained Focus

Staring at screens (or other objects) that are too close to your face can put strain on the muscles that help your eyes focus. This strain can produce aching pains and a tight sensation near the eye area.

Blue Light Exposure

Blue light is a kind of high-energy visible light that many screens produce. While it has not been proven to cause eye disease, research suggests that exposure to blue light before bed can disrupt your circadian rhythm. This reduces your ability to sleep restfully, making your eyes feel tired the next day.

Fighting Digital Eye Strain

You may be able to reduce some of your DES symptoms with the following strategies:

Using the 20-20-20 rule to help you rest your eyes during long periods of screen use. To follow this rule, simply focus your eyes on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds, and repeat this process once every 20 minutes.
Wearing specialty eyewear (often called “computer glasses”) to reduce the amount of blue light that enters your eyes. Computer glasses may help people who typically use screens near bedtime enjoy a more restful sleep.

Your eye doctors at i-Care Optometry will be happy to provide you with more tools and strategies for fighting the effects of digital eye strain. Contact us today to book an appointment and let us find a personalized solution for you.

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