Digital Eye Strain | Chatham | Dr. David Oliphant Optometry

A Digital Problem in Our Digital Age

Tired, strained, dry eyes, headaches, and neck aches are common after-effects of too much screen time. Canadians spend approximately 11 hours a day looking at digital screens, from computers to smartphones and tablets to TVs.

These devices have made our lives more convenient. But screen time also comes with a new issue unique to our digital age: digital eye strain.

Digital eye strain refers to a group of eye problems related to prolonged digital device use. We can help you prevent and manage symptoms to get more joy out of your day—and your screen time. Book an eye exam today so we can support your eye health.

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Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain

Some common symptoms of digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome include:

Headaches
Blurred vision
Double vision
Irritated eyes
Eye discomfort
Excessive tearing
Dry eye sensation

Does Digital Eye Strain Cause Long-Term Eye Damage?

The good news is that digital eye strain doesn’t lead to long-term eye damage and can go away naturally if your eyes get enough rest. There are many ways to help reduce your discomfort when using digital devices.

However, other eye conditions can have many of the same symptoms of digital eye strain. Getting your eyes checked can help rule out the possibility of a more serious issue.

Why Do Digital Devices Cause Eye Strain?

Digital eye strain results from the extra effort needed to maintain clear images on digital screens. Activities like driving, reading, and writing–which require prolonged focus–can cause eye strain.

Digital screens don’t display images and text as sharply as printed materials, forcing our eyes to work harder. Additionally, we tend to:

Blink less when using computers, leading to dry eyes & discomfort
Hold devices at angles that cause neck, back, & shoulder pain
Use devices with glare or reflection
Use devices with poor contrast & brightness

Uncorrected vision problems, like farsightedness and presbyopia, can also contribute to eye strain.

How to Reduce & Prevent Eye Strain

Fortunately, symptoms of eye strain can be managed by making simple lifestyle changes at work and home. Some of the discomfort you feel from using a computer is related to the strain on your body so that these lifestyle changes can be good for your eyes and overall health.

One of the easiest ways to reduce eye strain is to give your eyes frequent breaks. Remind yourself when to take a break by following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something at least 20 feet away. These breaks give your eyes a chance to relax and readjust.

You could even take these breaks a step further and take a break from sitting as well. Short exercise breaks are beneficial to your heart, lungs, and muscles.

Your workplace setup is key to supporting ongoing comfort. Following ergonomic practices can help prevent eye discomfort and repetitive strain injuries. Mixing breaks with a proper desk setup and regular stretch breaks can keep you comfortable.

Keep your monitor at arm’s length
Keep wrists straight & hands at or below elbow level to minimize tendon strain.

Choose a comfortable chair with plenty of support and adjust its height so your knees align with your hips.

Poor lighting and glare can make it harder for our eyes to maintain clear images. You can help prevent strained eyes by adjusting your environment lighting.

Reduce glare by facing your screen away from bright lights & windows.
Set your screen’s colour contrast & brightness to match your environment.

Digital Eye Strain & Children

Kids are using digital devices more than ever, especially with the rise of virtual schooling.

Excessive screen time can cause eye and muscle discomfort at any age. However, kids often overlook these discomforts when they’re having fun or might not fully communicate their symptoms. This could mean they’re not mentioning signs that could point to more serious eye issues.

The good news? The same techniques for avoiding eye strain for adults can be used to prevent eye strain for children. Help your child learn and practice healthy screen-viewing habits.

Make Digital Downtime Comfortable Again: Book Your Next Visit

There are many wonderful things digital devices can help us accomplish in our daily lives, from work productivity to entertainment at home. We want to help take the strain out of your screen time by supporting healthy viewing habits.

Let’s discuss how we can help at your next routine eye exam.

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