Care for Hardworking Eyes in a Digital World

For many of us, screen time is an unavoidable fact of life. If your eyes are tired and dry after a day at work, or you find yourself dealing with headaches or sore shoulders following hours spent at a computer, you might be experiencing digital eye strain.

A visit to your eye doctor for an eye exam can help identify uncorrected vision issues that may contribute to your symptoms and help you find more comfort throughout your day.

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What Is Digital Eye Strain?

Digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome, describes a combination of symptoms that crop up for people who spend at least 2 hours a day working at a screen.

If you spend your day working on a computer, you might have noticed one or more of the following symptoms of digital eye strain:

Tired, sore eyes
Headaches
Blurred vision
Dry or gritty eyes
Shoulder pain and stiffness

How Your Optometrist Can Help

Those digital eye strain symptoms might be caused by how your computer and desk are set up, or they might be related to uncorrected vision errors or an outdated prescription.

If you’re over 40, your symptoms could be related to presbyopia, a natural change in the eyes that happens with aging and affects your near vision. If you don’t have the right glasses or contacts prescription for near vision, your eyes have to work extra hard, resulting in discomfort by the end of the day.

During a comprehensive eye exam, we aim to find the likely causes of your symptoms. We’ll discuss your symptoms and your work environment and make a plan to improve your daily comfort.

The 20-20-20 Rule

Your eyes are working hard for you. Give them a break by remembering the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away.

Remember to Blink

Since we tend to blink less while using a computer, remind yourself to blink to keep your eyes lubricated. If you’re constantly struggling with dry, gritty, or red eyes in the office or beyond, please ask us about dry eye therapy.