Most of us spend hours on our devices, and the recent pandemic has caused us to rely on digital devices even more. Online classes, zoom meetings and general day-to-day activities require us to go online, and those who are learning or working from home will have to spend most of their day looking at a screen. This is our new norm, and while most of us have adapted to this new work-from-home lifestyle, we may not be thinking enough about our eyes, and this is something you need to pay attention to.
Eye strain is a very real problem, and more and more people are experiencing this condition throughout the day. This is because we are constantly looking at our screens, and when you spend all day looking at a digital device, your eyes will have to work even harder than what they’re used to and will have to exert more effort to read from a smartphone or to make out the fine print from a computer screen. Blurred vision, headaches, eye strain and dry eyes are all symptoms of digital eye strain, and some people will have trouble focusing on their work as a result. You may also have difficulty maintaining clarity in your vision, so this is something you need to address so that you can focus on your work and complete your tasks comfortably.
There are several steps you can take to help with digital eye strain, including making a few adjustments to your screen. You can change the level of brightness, and the colour tones to a more suitable setting as comfort will help reduce your symptoms. It’s also important that you take breaks throughout the day to relieve the stress on your eyes and make sure that you blink often because some people forget to do this when they are concentrating too hard.
You should also be aware of the blue light that comes from our phones, tablets and laptops. When this light is emitted, it will increase the possibility of eye fatigue and will also change your sleep patterns because it will reduce the amount of melatonin within your body. Installing a blue light filter will make a world of difference, and your situation will improve drastically. You can place this filter in your glasses or can apply a film directly to your screen, both of which will reduce eye strain.
It is also a must that you visit your optometrist regularly because it is extremely important to have your eyes checked. Your optometrist will monitor the health of your eyes to ensure there are no problems and will be able to provide you with a prescription if necessary.
The experts at Orangeville Optometric Centre will gladly help with your eye health, so if your eyes are struggling as a result of digital eye strain, contact us to book an appointment today!