Don’t Let Digital Eye Strain Get You Down

Many of us work in front of a computer, then to wind down from the workday, we head to another screen to stream a favourite TV show. All this screen time takes a toll on our eyes.

After prolonged exposure to digital screens, you may start to notice symptoms of digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome, including sore eyes and headaches. Visit your optometrist for an eye exam so they can rule out other serious eye conditions and provide guidance on how to deal with your digital eye strain.

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What Is Digital Eye Strain?

Digital eye strain is caused by extended time spent using digital screens, like computers, tablets, laptops, and smartphones. When we look at words on a screen, they’re not as sharp as on paper, so our eyes have to work harder to focus.

Certain risk factors exacerbate digital eye strain, including:

Daily use of digital screens
Poor lighting
Digital screens with glare or reflection
Undiagnosed vision issues
Incorrect prescription
Ergonomically poor viewing distance or angle
Poor posture while viewing digital screens

Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain

This annoying condition can manifest in several ways. You’ve probably experienced some of the following digital eye strain symptoms if you endure a lot of screen time:

Sore, tired eyes
Burning or itching eyes
Watery or dry eyes
Blurred or double vision
Headache, neck pain, shoulder or back pain
Increased light sensitivity
Trouble focussing
Heavy eyelids

Can Digital Eye Strain Be Treated?

Fortunately, there are simple ways to alleviate your digital eye strain. Try some of these at-home or in-office solutions to find relief from digital eye strain:

Position your screen directly in front of you, 50 to 65 centimetres (20 to 26 inches) away from your eyes and slightly below eye level
Increase the text size on your screen so you can read it comfortably
Reduce the amount of surrounding light and adjust the brightness of your device screen to reduce glare and harsh reflections
Hold your handheld devices a safe distance from your eyes, just below eye level
Blink often to refresh and moisten your eyes
Rest your eyes with the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet (6 metres) in front of you for 20 seconds.

Find Comfort from Digital Eye Strain

If you think you may be struggling with digital eye strain, visit us for an official diagnosis, and we can discuss the best course of action to take.

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Our Services

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Location

Our office can be found off of Major MacKenzie Drive West in the same lot as the Medical Centre and Tim Hortons. The location of our office is 965 Major Mackenzie Dr. West, Units 3 & 4.