Pretty much everyone uses computers or digital devices for something today. We are constantly exposed to digital screens either at work or in our personal lives and this constant exposure can lead to some eye strain over time. Not a lot of people are familiar with the issues of digital eye strain, even though they could be suffering from it on a daily basis.
According to the 2016 Digital Eye Strain report from the Vision Council 10,000 Americans were surveyed about their eyes and 65% of those Americans suffered from one or more symptoms of digital eye strain. Symptoms of digital eye strain typically include: dry or irritated eyes, blurred vision, eye fatigue and headaches.
So what is Digital Eye Strain?
“Digital eye strain” can encompass a lot of different symptoms, but ultimately it is the discomfort you start to feel after using digital devices for extended periods of time. There are some simple things that can be done to help protect your eyes from digital eye strain due to daily exposure to digital devices, such as:
Avoid glare on your digital devices screen – Glare can make it difficult to view content on your digital devices screen, which can result in you straining your eyes to see. This will inevitably lead to digital eye strain if left unresolved, luckily you can purchase anti-glare filters for most digital devices.
Don’t forget to blink – This is in fact possible, studies suggest that we blink 66% less often when using a digital device. Blinking is essential in maintaining the health of the surface of your eye and in maintaining clear vision.
Utilize the 20-20-20 rule – It’s easy to lose track of when people are using digital devices, but it is important to remember to take short breaks intermittently throughout digital device usage. The 20-20-20 rule suggests that for every 20 minutes you use a digital device, you should spend 20 seconds looking at something that is at least 20 feet away. The purpose of doing this is to refresh your eyes and give them a chance to readjust.