Digital Eyestrain and Ways to Reduce It

With most people working from home, there are increasing complaints about digital eye strain. Working from home on laptops instead of desktops and spending more time on e-readers and cellphones are partially to blame. Digital eye strain can also come from staring at a screen for a prolonged amount of time or trying to read in low light. It’s something that affects us all, but the good news is relief is in sight.

Some of the symptoms of eye strain are:

• Sore, tired or itchy eyes
• Headache
• Difficulty concentrating
• Blurry vision
• Watery or dry eyes
• Difficulty keeping eyes open

Some ways to reduce the strain on your eyes are:

• Take a break from whatever you are doing and take a quick walk around the house or around the block.
• Don’t spend all day staring at the screen, whether it’s a TV or a computer screen.
• Add a humidifier to your workspace and avoid dry air directly blowing at your eyes.
• Ask your optometrist for advice or consider purchasing blue light lenses online.