MONITOR
The amount of time you spend looking at a computer screen might affect your eyes and aggravate dry eye problems. However, work commitments may prevent you from restricting the time you spend in front of a computer. Though computers are beneficial in various ways, they can induce eye strain.
Eye strain can cause impaired vision, headaches, and neck pain. This is why it is highly recommended to invest in a good computer monitor for eye strain. These kinds of monitors come inbuilt with advanced eye care technology that handles blue-light effectively and causes less eye strain.
Now in this article, let’s take a better look at this eye strain problem and ways to fix it.
Why Do Screens Cause Eyestrain & what are its symptoms?
We normally blink 15-20 times each minute. This distributes tears throughout your eyes, preventing them from becoming dry and itchy. However, researchers discovered that you blink less than half as often when you read, watch, or play on a screen.
When you blink less, your tears have more time to evaporate, resulting in red and dry eyes. The reflection of the monitor’s brightness into your eyes might also contribute to dry and tired eyes. So by the end of your workday, you may find yourself straining to see what you could see more clearly earlier.
The following are symptoms of eyestrain caused by screens –
- Blurry vision or double vision
- Red, watery, irritated eyes
- Spasms in the eyes
- Headaches
- Neck and shoulder pain
How can you prevent eye strain?
In general, treating eyestrain requires making minor adjustments to your everyday routines or environment.
Wearing glasses that are prescribed for certain tasks, like computer use or reading, might help minimize eyestrain in some people. However, we recommend you consult a doctor for long underlying eye problems.
Now let’s take a look at these 6 tips to help you reduce eyestrain.
- Improve lighting in the house
Excessively bright light, whether from outside sunlight pouring in via a window or harsh indoor lighting, can create digital eye strain. Close window drapes or blinds to reduce outdoor light. Reduce interior illumination by utilizing fewer, lower-intensity light bulbs and tubes.
If workable, arrange your computer so that the windows are to your side rather than in front of or behind your screen. Use a floor or table lamp instead, which will produce softer, indirect illumination. Soft white LED light bulbs (color temperature: 2700 K) are more eye-friendly than “daylight” or “cool white” bulbs with higher color temperature ratings.
- Reduce glare
Glare caused by light refracting off your screen or other objects in the room might add to computer eye strain. Install a screen protector to reduce glare, and if feasible, paint bright or reflecting walls a more relaxing hue with a matte finish. If you use glasses, invest in anti-reflective (AR) lenses. AR coating reduces the glare by reducing the amount of light that reflects off your lenses’ front and rear surfaces.
- Getting a better monitor
If you’re working on an outdated computer, think about switching to a new device with the most recent high-resolution screen technology. Adjust the screen’s brightness to a comfortable level similar to the brightness of your surroundings. Consider getting a gadget with a bigger screen for better viewing.
- Increase blinking
Blink regularly (and completely) to keep the surface of your eyes wet and avoid dry eye problems. Train yourself to blink after reading every two or three paragraphs on your screen to lessen your risk of dry eyes when using a computer.
- Keep taking breaks
Get up and away from your computer screen at least every 30 minutes to lower your risk of headaches neck, back, and shoulder pain caused by computer use. To relieve stress and muscular tiredness, move about and stretch your arms, legs, back, neck, and shoulders. A few minutes of this practice every 30 minutes will help you improve your posture and feel less tired and also reduce eye strain.
- Consult an eye doctor
The essential thing you can do to avoid or correct computer vision issues is to have a routine complete eye checkup. If you haven’t had an eye checkup in over a year, find a local eye doctor and consult with them. Your eye doctor can then prescribe the best lenses for seeing clearly and comfortably your situation.
Conclusion
The eye is a fragile organ that needs proper care to have good vision and avoid eye conditions. Many of the methods outlined above do not require a significant investment of time or money to be effective.
You will likely have less dry eye irritation if you increase your efforts to protect your eyes. Often even following basic eye exercises may not stop eye strain, situations like those call for a display upgrade or a doctor consultation.
