The Digital Eye Strain Dilemma

There is no denying that the latest technological innovations helped improve our way of life and increased our access to information and resources. But there are some downsides as well.

The fact that most of us sit and watch a screen for 8+ hours on a daily basis has led to a wide array of health issues like back pains, bad posture, and eye strain (to name a few). Moreover, because younger generations (starting with Millennials) are more exposed to this way of living, the health problems show up at younger ages.

computer-work-eye-strain
Image source: pexels.com

Still, the situation is not hopeless – there are things we can do to protect our health, and today we will focus on how to prevent and alleviate eye strain in a time when gadgets and devices are wherever you look.

What is Digital Eye Strain?

The blue light emitted by screens (smartphones, laptops, PC monitors, Smart TVs and others) is also called high-energy visible light and has the power to reach deeper into the human eye, compared to other wavelengths with which we interact on a daily basis (like artificial lighting). The main problem caused by this type of light has to do with disrupting sleep patterns and circadian rhythms (if you’re using devices during the evening or night) because it keeps the brain active.

Additionally, if you spend more than 2 hours in front of a screen, you will most likely suffer from blurred vision and dry eyes. Also, the repetitive eye movements that follow things happening on a screen in combination with the flicker and glare (even for modern screens) lead to fatigue and eye strain.

How to Stay Safe While Working

The best solution to avoid digital eye strain is to spend less time in front of a screen and avoid simultaneous exposure to multiple screens. However, this is quite difficult to do in a world that’s becoming more digital by the day.

Therefore, you can use a few tricks and tools to keep your eyes safe while still enjoying the full use of your devices.

Tools to Keep You Safe

Modern screens are designed to be less harmful than older models, but long exposure can lead to light sensitivity and fatigue. To avoid this, you can wear a pair of Axon Optics light sensitivity glasses, designed to reduce specific wavelengths without impairing your vision. So, if you suffer from headaches after a long day in front of the computer or feel the outdoor light hurts your eyes, these glasses may be the right answer for your problems.

Also, to reduce eye strain, make sure you set yout monitor in such a way to avoid any glare from surrounding surfaces. Also, adjust the color temperature to warm orange, especially if you work in low-light conditions (it will cut down the effects of blue light exposure).

Tricks To Keep Your Eyes Healthy

Prevention is always the best way to take care of your health, so make sure to implement these habits in your daily routine:

  • Take your eyes off the screen every 20 minutes, for about 20 seconds (it allows the eyes to refocus and rest)
  • Keep the appropriate distance from a computer’s screen and keep mobile devices below eye level (and at a distance, of course)
  • Blink – the blink rate is lower when you focus the eyesight on a screen than when moving around or going outside.

Overall, it’s best to avoid spending countless hours in front of devices (with or without protective eyewear). So, create a schedule that allows you to take breaks and rest your eyes throughout the day.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here