We spend the majority of our days in front of screens. We stare at our computers at work, our televisions at home, and our phones everywhere in between. For the most part, screens are an immovable object. So what do we do when the excessive screen exposure we experience starts to negatively impact our bodies?
Digital eye strain is a common problem resulting from long uninterrupted bouts of screen time and can have a serious impact on the whole body.
We can’t very well simply eliminate screens from our lives; they’re a staple of our society. There are, however, a few strategies and solutions for reducing or eliminating digital eye strain.
Making the most of your workspace can go a long way to helping with digital eye strain. Try to position your screen in a way that reduces glare, and keep it clear of fingerprints or smudges. If you can, keep the light in the room as bright or slightly dimmer than your monitor. Your screen should be roughly an arm’s length away from you, and if at all possible, with a soft light source behind it.
Every 20 minutes or so, take a break from looking at your screen. Find an object that’s about 20 feet away from you, and stare at it for 20 seconds. You may find it helpful to set alarms as a reminder until this exercise becomes habitual.
Since blue light is a contributing factor to digital eye strain, it may help to filter it out. A special lens coating keeps blue light from reaching your eyes, meaning they don’t have to work quite so hard to focus and take in the information. Check out our amazing selection of frames to get started on your computer glasses.
The human body has changed and adapted over thousands of years to thrive in today’s environment. Technology, on the other hand, is advancing and updating every day to change our environment. In a lot of ways, this innovation is a good thing. However, one drawback is that our bodies can’t always keep up with the changes.
Our eyes have not evolved to handle the amount of screen time we use on a regular basis. As a result, we start to experience the pain, discomfort, and other symptoms associated with digital eye strain.
Light travels in wavelengths. The different wavelengths of light are responsible for showing us colour. “Blue light” is one specific wavelength that is commonly emitted by digital screens. Each kind of light hits your eye differently. Blue light is a very scattered wavelength, making it difficult for the eye to focus. This means your eye has to work overtime to make sense of what it’s taking in.
Although it stems from a struggle in your eyes, digital eye strain can have a negative effect on a large portion of your body. In addition to dry, sore eyes (and an exacerbation of dry eye symptoms), patients often experience headaches, neck and back pain, difficulty focusing, and fatigue.
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