Digital eye strain, also referred to as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), is a condition symptomatic of our increased exposure to digital devices with screens, in this Digital Age. It affects 64% to 90% of all office workers.
If you’re experiencing eye fatigue, dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain, eye twitching and red eyes, you may be suffering from CVS.
To protect your eyes against digital eye strain:
1. Schedule regular eye examinations
Keeping your eye health in check is more likely to happen if you schedule an annual appointment. It’s important to inform the optometrist if you do have increased exposure to screens so that she can accurately assess any symptoms you might display.
2. Take a break - Use the 20-20-20 rule
Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.
3. Minimize glare
Consider how the lighting in the room (whether natural or synthetic) might be increasing the glare on your screen. You might decide to change the way your screen faces or install an anti-reflective screen.
4. Blue light control lenses
Wear specially designed computer glasses with anti-reflective lenses to further minimize glare and protect your eyes against blue light. Our biggest source of blue light is from the sun, and it can be good for us in small doses. However, overexposure to the blue light emitted by digital devices (as well as LED and fluorescent lights) can adversely affect our eye health and lead to sleeplessness at night.
5. Blink more often
Blinking increases the moisture in your eyes, which helps prevent dryness and irritation.
