Finding innovative ways to combat eye strain is absolutely essential in our digital age. For most people, screens are a constant presence in everyday lives, and won’t be going anywhere any time soon. Whether you use them for work, entertainment, or to stay connected to friends and family, exposure to screens can cause eye strain, and other eye health-related issues, so what can you do about it?
Adjust Your Settings
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Adjusting the settings on your phone or computer can make it more comfortable to look at. This is especially important if you work on a screen and know you’ll be looking at it for large parts of the day. Play around with increasing text size, and adjust the brightness to make any text on screen easier to read and kinder to the eyes.
Proper Screen Positioning
To eye strain further, it’s also a good idea to correctly position your screen. It should be at eye level, and a comfortable distance away. A good rule of thumb is to put the screen an arm’s length away. It would help if you also aimed to avoid glare by adjusting the lighting of your screen and angling it away from any natural light.
Blink More!
This may sound unbelievable, but it can help to protect your eyes! Blinking more frequently helps moisten your eyes and prevent dryness, especially when using screens for extended periods.
Utilise Reading Glasses
If you feel your eyes are becoming regularly fatigued, it’s a good idea to get your eyes tested. You may need reading glasses to enhance the size of small objects and text. Alternatively, you could opt for glasses that reduce glare and block blue light from just-glasses.co.uk, which will help reduce the strain on your eyes.
Eye Exercises
Another way to avoid eye strain is to do eye exercises, that relax your eye muscles. Think more meditation for your eyes and less aerobics. One simple way to do this is to focus on a nearby object for 15 seconds, then shift your gaze to a distant object for 15 seconds. Then rinse and repeat.
Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
When using screens for long periods throughout the day, it’s good practice to follow the 20-20-20 rule if possible. The golden rule goes as follows: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something that is 20 feet away from you. This is a simple habit that can help reduce the eye strain and fatigue caused by prolonged screen time,
Lastly, Take Breaks
When taking breaks throughout, try to do so in a way that gets you away from screens and, if possible, your phone. Stand up, go for a little walk, stretch, or make a cup of coffee. It’s also ideal if you can get outside and look around in the natural light. Doing something that gets your eyes away from the screen and gets your body moving will help prevent eye strain as well as bodily fatigue.
Remember, if you are unsure of the cause of eye strain or your symptoms worsen over time, you should consult an eye care professional.
