How to Minimize Digital Strain on Your Eyes
Workspace Alterations
Proper Lighting and Screen Brightness: Use fewer light fixtures or lower voltage light bulbs and close curtains or blinds when possible. Adjust the brightness and contrast of your monitor to the levels that are most comfortable.
Reduce Glare: Set up your computer where glare from windows won’t affect your screen or cover windows when this is not possible. An anti-glare screen on your monitor or an anti-reflective (AR) or anti-glare coating applied to your eyewear can also help to minimize glare and the strain it causes to your vision.
Screen size and distance: You want to make sure you are using a high quality (such as a flat LCD) screen that has a relatively large display. Your viewing distance should be about an arm’s length away with the top of the monitor at about eye level or slightly below.
Eye Care Tips to Minimize Digital Strain on Your Eyes
Computer Eyewear
Computer glasses reduce eye strain by adjusting the focus slightly so your eyes feel like they are focusing on something further away. They also have a tint to remove the glare and block blue light from entering into your eyes. There are a number of options for computer eyewear, both if you need prescription eyewear and not.
Give Your Eyes a Break
Schedule and take frequent breaks from your screen. Follow the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Take this time to stand up and stretch your back, neck and legs as well.
Keep Eyes Moist
When viewing a digital screen or monitor for an extended period of time, we tend to blink less frequently. Blinking however, is critical for keeping the eyes moist, which allows them to remain clear and comfortable and to avoid dry eyes, irritation, blurry vision or eye fatigue.
Adults & Kids Are Susceptible to Computer Eye Strain
It is important to know that both adults and children alike are susceptible to computer eye strain from computers and digital devices. With the growing use of such devices in our everyday lives, it is important to start educating ourselves and our children on how to combat the negative effects of these habits.