Between school, work, homework, and downtime many of our obligations and sources of entertainment require screens. All of this time looking at the screen’s illumination for extended times can cause eye strain leading to dry eye, headache, eye twitches, and other side effects. The American Academy of Opthalmology has some easy tips to minimize eye strain:
- Practice the 20-20-20 rule by setting a timer on your phone or watch to remind you to look 20 feet away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds.
- Practice eye ergonomics when considering the angle you look at your screens, how far you sit from screens when seated, and the screen’s brightness.
- Prevent dryness by using a humidifier in your home/office or using artificial tears to keep eyes moist and relieve discomfort.
- Skip blue light-blocking glasses since “there is no scientific evidence that blue light from digital devices causes damage to your eye,” according to the American Academic of Ophthalmology. Instead, consider talking to your ophthalmologist about computer glasses.