Screens are everywhere in our daily lives—smartphones, TVs, computers, tablets, and gaming devices are our constant companions. Alongside the rise in use of these devices, digital eye strain has become a common issue.
Many Canadians spend around 5 hours each day on digital devices, leading to uncomfortable symptoms like irritation and tired eyes. While technology isn’t the sole cause of eye strain, it plays a significant role for most individuals.
The duration of eye strain symptoms varies from person to person, but often subsides within minutes to hours after taking a break from intense focus. However, there are targeted treatments and techniques to help reduce its impact.
Scheduling regular eye exams with Discover Eyecare is a helpful step for managing and preventing chronic eye strain and ensuring that your vision stays clear and comfortable.
What Is Eye Strain?
Eye strain refers to a collection of symptoms linked to prolonged near vision activities, such as reading or screen use. It’s often referred to as computer vision syndrome when caused by extended digital device usage. Eye strain typically leads to discomfort, and your eyes may feel sore, tired, or overworked. The condition is caused by eye muscles maintaining focus for long periods without adequate breaks.
While screen time is a frequent trigger, activities like reading or driving can also lead to eye strain. Common symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Eye discomfort
- Watery eyes, back or neck pain
- Tired eyes
- Sensitivity to light.
What Causes Digital Eye Strain?
Digital eye strain stems from overuse of the focusing muscles in the eyes during tasks that demand intense visual concentration. Close-up activities are a part of daily life, but can strain your eyes if done excessively. Factors like poor posture while reading or using digital devices, reduced blinking, or holding objects too close or too far from your eyes can all intensify eye strain.
Contributing factors may include extended periods of reading or writing, using digital devices while driving, or reading in dim lighting conditions.
Preventing Eye Strain
While professional care from your optometrist can be an important part of managing eye strain, incorporating a few simple habits into your daily routine can help alleviate the condition.
Manage Screen Time
Excessive screen exposure not only causes eye strain but can also impact your sleep. Blue light from digital screens may disrupt your natural sleep cycle, especially when used close to bedtime, as your brain mistakes it for daylight. Limiting your screen time is crucial for reducing these effects. Many devices enable you to monitor or limit your daily usage, so you can adjust accordingly for better eye health.
Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
To ease eye strain, every 20 minutes, look away from your screen or task and focus on something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple practice helps relax your eye muscles. If your work involves constant screen use or long drives, balance these activities with tasks that require different eye movements.
Use Eye Drops
When concentrating on screens or reading, the number of times you blink tends to decrease from the usual 14-17 blinks per minute, leading to dryness and discomfort. Eye drops can offer quick relief. During your next exam, ask your optometrist for recommendations tailored to your needs.
Adjust Your Screen Settings
Make screens more comfortable to view by modifying font size, brightness, and contrast. Ensure your screen is positioned 20 degrees below eye level and at least an arm’s length away. Activate night mode on your device to reduce blue light exposure and minimize eye fatigue.
The Long-Term Effects of Untreated Eye Strain
While eye strain might feel like a temporary nuisance, ignoring it can lead to more chronic eye strain, and cause more vision symptoms.
Productivity often takes a hit too—persistent headaches, blurry vision, and difficulty concentrating can make work or study more exhausting. Sleep issues caused by prolonged screen use may further sap your energy and mental sharpness.
Untreated eye strain can also affect overall well-being. Physical discomfort, such as neck and back pain from poor posture, can disrupt relaxation and hobbies. Dry eyes and irritation may escalate, creating a harmful cycle of strain and fatigue that impacts your mood and quality of life.
Find Relief from Eye Strain Today
Eye strain symptoms can vary in duration, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the individual and their activities. While symptoms often improve with rest and simple changes to your routine, persistent discomfort shouldn’t be ignored. Prolonged or severe eye strain can impact your daily life and overall eye health if left unaddressed.
If you’re experiencing recurring eye strain or discomfort, our team at Discover Eyecare is here to help. Scheduling a comprehensive eye exam is an essential step in identifying the root cause of your symptoms and creating a personalized plan to manage them. Don’t wait for eye strain to disrupt your routine—book an appointment with Discover Eyecare today and give your eyes the care they deserve!
