Be Smart About Screen Time: How To Avoid Digital Eye Strain
Digital eyestrain—the symptoms of which can include a headache and double vision can be felt after just two hours of peering at a screen.
We all spend an average of 8 hours looking at our mobile phones, tablets, and computers each day. But did you know that the blue light emitted by those screens penetrates all the way to the retina, over time damaging our vision, causing eye strain, and even contributing to sleep deprivation?
The good news is that by cutting down on your blue light exposure and making a few simple daily adjustments, you can greatly decrease the effects of digital eyestrain altogether. Here is a quick and easy checklist:
1. Follow the 20/ 20/ 20 rule. Look 20 feet away from your digital screens every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds.
2. Blink frequently When staring at a screen, our eyes don’t blink as often. Blinking coats the cornea with oxygen and nutrients; to sharpen vision.
3. Block blue light Add a blue light blocking screen protector to your phone and download a light adjusting app, like flux.
4. Lighting Really is Everything Turn down the brightness on your phone or computer screen and work in a well-lit room.
5. Proximity Matters Make sure all screens are a healthy distance from eyes: 20-28 inches away to reduce the intensity of harmful UV and HEV light.
Protect your eyes from HEV light in the same way to avoid digital eyestrain.
Like sunblock, a blue light screen protector is part of the protection factor equation.
