How to Prevent Digital Eye Strain From Prolonged Screen Time

How to Prevent Digital Eye Strain From Prolonged Screen Time

Digital devices have become a huge part of daily life, especially in recent years with the growth of remote working, online learning, and even streaming services for films and series.

 

People are glued to their screens now more than ever, and screen time has increased for all ages, whether for work and school or leisure time. However, constantly looking at a screen can take a toll on the eyes as you’re always looking at a nearby object and exposed to blue light. Digital eye strain has emerged as a prominent issue faced by those who spend a lot of time on their devices. Dry eyes, blurry vision, eye fatigue, and headaches are common symptoms one can experience with digital eye strain.

 

While they aren’t permanent and are usually nothing more than an inconvenience, these issues may impact eye health over time. Fortunately, the growing concern over digital eye strain has brought solutions to mitigate it when using digital devices.

 

Here’s how to prevent digital eye strain from prolonged screen time:

 

Wear blue light glasses

Screens are major artificial sources of high-energy blue light, which tends to flicker more compared to weaker light waves. As such, constantly looking at a screen can cause digital eye strain due to harsh glare. Wearing blue light glasses can help people mitigate the impact of blue light on the eyes when using digital devices. Blue light lenses filter out blue light, enhancing visual contrast and reducing glare for increased comfort and less eye strain.

 

They may also come with additional coatings to further improve the wearing experience. Glasses Direct showcases how blue light glasses can be customised further to fit a wearer’s needs and preferences. The retailer’s BlueReflect glasses have anti-glare coatings to reduce unwanted reflections, which can help prevent eye strain even when using devices for long periods. The same benefit is also present in the KODAK UVBlue Lens, which also provides UV protection and scratch-resistant properties. You can easily add a blue light filter to a pair of prescription glasses or buy a non-prescription pair with blue light lenses to suit your vision needs accordingly.

 

Make use of eye care features

As digital eye strain has become a more prominent concern in recent years, many devices have received new updates that come with eye care settings and features. By activating them, people can reduce factors that contribute to eye strain symptoms while still being able to use their phones, tablets, or computers.

 

For instance, the iOS 17 update on Apple iPhones offers a new feature called screen distance. By turning it on, the user’s screen will be interrupted by a notification that informs them that the device is too close to the face. It will only disappear once the screen distance is adjusted. Keeping the phone a safe distance away prevents digital eye strain from constantly looking at a near object. Blue light filters like Night Shift on iPhone and Eye Comfort on Android phones also reduce blue light emissions from the screen. These features can be scheduled to turn on and off at certain times, such as right before going to sleep, or adapt to lighting conditions. This can help prevent eye strain and alertness that can disrupt circadian rhythm and affect sleep quality.

 

Take frequent breaks

Screens have become ubiquitous for work, school, personal entertainment and more. As such, it can be difficult to find time away from them, but being consistent with breaks can help reduce digital eye strain. While looking at your device, your eyes constantly focus on a close distance, and you blink less often. These can cause fatigue and dryness, making the eyes feel uncomfortable.

 

Taking regular breaks allows your eyes to rest. You can follow the 20-20-20 rule, which involves staring at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This allows your eyes to focus on a far object and provide relief from your screen’s bright display. You can also take a five-minute break every 30 minutes for a longer rest period. Being conscious of your blinking can help lubricate the eyes and prevent dryness. Set alarms to remind yourself to step away from the screen every so often, even if you’re not experiencing eye strain.

 

 

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