Digital eye strain - How to soothe the pain

One third of people, who were born between 1960 to 1980, spend at least 9 hours on a digital device every single day. By doing this you could be putting the health of your eyes at serious risk.

A recent study was done and it shows that 68% of these people report suffering from the effects of what is known as “digital eye strain.”

For most of us, looking at screens the whole day is part of our jobs and everyday lives, so it is utterly unavoidable. So, what can we do to protect our eyes?

A mix of things lead to digital eye strain, but the critical point is that staring at a glowing display (your computer monitor, laptop screen, TV, tablet or smartphone) for long periods of time is completely unnatural.

Even worse, small print and blurry pictures may cause you to strain in order to focus. Have you noticed that you tend to blink less when looking at a screen? Well, that can lead to dryness or irritation in your eyes.

The blue light emitted by digital displays (HEV light) increases eye strain. Research even suggests that cumulative and constant exposure to blue light can even damage retinal cells in your eye!

Here are some digital eye strain symptoms:

- Uncomfortable eyes that are red
- Dry or irritated eyes
- Eye fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Watery eyes
- Headaches

The simplest way to try and avoid digital eye strain is to take breaks from staring at your screen as often as you can. Some say every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. Others suggest that a five minute break away from your computer every hour works too.

If you struggle to remember to take breaks, you could set a timer to remind you and get yourself into the routine of doing it. There is even software available, InchWest’s SmartBreak package, which monitors the way you spend time on a computer and prompts you to take time off.

Here are some other ways to avoid digital eye strain:

> Adjust your display settings so that you don’t have to strain to read or see anything
> You should consider an anti-glare screen for your computer monitor
> Make sure the brightness of your screen is the same as the light levels in the room
> Glasses wearers can talk to their optician about special lens finished and coatings that help to reduce digital eye strain

In our jobs and everyday lives, sitting and looking at a digital display is naturally part of it. Even when you come home from work, watching TV or staring at your smartphone is something we all do. In order to protect your eyes for the future, make sure to avoid digital eye strain as much as you possibly can. 

For all your IT needs and services, contact The Computer Guyz in Cape Town or Centurion. We have a variety of options, from general IT support and repairs to graphic design and hosting or just some friendly advice.