Many Americans spend prolonged periods of time using digital devices, both at work and at home, resulting in digital eye strain. Individuals who spend more than two hours per day on digital devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets, are more likely to develop digital eye strain.

Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain

Symptoms of digital eye strain include:

  • Burning eyes
  • Tired Eyes
  • Red Eyes
  • Blurry vision
  • Double vision
  • Headaches
  • Twitching eyelids
  • Problems switching focus from near objects to distant objects, and vice versa

Combating Digital Eye Strain

There are several strategies you can employ to reduce and even avoid digital eye strain. One of the most important things you can do is give your eyes regular breaks. The American Optometric Association suggests following the 20/20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes, you should take a 20 second break and shift your gaze to an object at least 20 feet away.

You may also want to consider investing in a pair of computer glasses, which use a special anti-glare coating and blue-light filter to help prevent digital eye strain.

For more information about digital eye strain and what you can do to avoid it, please speak to your optometrist.