You most likely use screens for almost everything, including work, relaxation and just keeping up with daily life. All that time with your digital devices could be to blame if your eyes are dry and fatigued, your eyesight becomes fuzzy by the end of the day or your head, neck and shoulders start to ache.
We blink roughly 15 to 20 times every minute on average. This involuntary action of the body happens so that the tears that our eyes produce are uniformly distributed, preventing them from becoming dry and irritated. However, researchers discovered that reading or staring at a screen causes us to blink fewer than half as often. Furthermore, the contrast of text against the background, as well as the glare and flashing from digital screens, can be taxing on the eyes.
Although digital devices are here to stay, you can take steps to minimize symptoms of eye strain like redness, irritation and fatigue while you do work. These include the following:
Moreover, you can protect your eyes further from further strain. When your eyes become dry, use artificial tears. If your eyes feel tired, use a warm, damp towel to soothe them. More importantly, get your eyes checked at least once a year. Your eye doctor may prescribe you a pair of eyeglasses to help you with your prolonged computer or mobile device use.
Alderwood Optical and Canyon Park Vision Clinic are full-service eye-care specialty clinics serving patients in Lynnwood, Bothell and Shoreline, WA. Our optometrists provide the highest level of eye care, providing comprehensive eye exams and prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses. Call us at (425) 771-8472 (Lynnwood) or (425) 485-0430 (Bothell). You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.