Blog

Eyestrain has become synonymous with the digital age. It has become as prevalent as the use of digital screens for practically everything: work, relaxation, and keeping up with daily activities. It causes your eyes to tire and feel dry. In the end, it may cause your vision to be blurry.

Eyestrain can be annoying, but it is not a crucial issue. It will go away when you get some time and rest your eyes. But in some cases, it may indicate an underlying eye condition. If that is the case, you need to get treatment. In the meantime, how do you get relief from eyestrain?

Adjust the Lighting in Your Surroundings

You may need to readjust the lighting in your home. Make it soft, not bright. The light on your devices should not be more intense than your surroundings. You can eliminate brilliance from outside using drapes, blinds, or shades. If you are in the office, use floor or desk lamps. Overhead fluorescent lights may irritate your eyes.

Minimize Glare

Furnishings and reflecting walls can cause glare, leading to eyestrain. You can start by repositioning your computer. Position it with the windows to the sides, not the front or the back. 
 

You can also install an anti-glare screen on your computer. If you wear eyeglasses, you can ask for an anti-reflective coating. If possible, you can repaint your walls to give them a dark, matte finish.

Adjust Your Display Settings

You can adjust the brightness of the screen, text size, contrast, and color temperature. It will help reduce eyestrain. Adjust the brightness and make it the same as your surrounding workstation. To test this, you can look at the white background. If it appears as a light source, then it is too bright. Lower the display lighting a bit more.

Adjusting the text size and contrast will help you be comfortable when reading or writing long documents. Using black on a white background is the best combination. On the other hand, reducing the color temperature reduces the blue light emission by your display. It gives you better long-term comfort.

Blink!

Blinking is crucial when you are using a computer. It moistens your eyes, preventing them from drying and irritation. It is common not to blink when you are using a computer. It causes the tear film on your eyes to evaporate, causing dry eyes. 

To reduce the risk of this happening, exercise your eyes by blinking; do it ten times every 20 minutes. Close your eyes very slowly as if you are falling asleep. Open them very slowly as you allow them to rehydrate.

Exercise Your Eyes

Another reason for eyestrain is tiredness. Your eyes will tire from constantly focusing on a computer screen for hours. You need to exercise and relax by looking away from your screen. 
 

Do this every 20 minutes by gazing at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Doctors call this exercise the 20-20-20 rule. It reduces fatigue and exercises your eye muscles.

For more information on how to relieve eyestrain, visit Super Optical Express at our office in Gainesville, Florida. You can call (352) 702-9700 today to schedule an appointment.