Eye Health
Most of us spend eight or more hours a day looking at screens. That's not going away — but the eye strain, headaches, and blurred vision that come with it don't have to be permanent fixtures of your workday.
Digital eye strain — also called computer vision syndrome — is a group of eye and vision-related problems caused by prolonged use of digital screens. Computers, tablets, smartphones, and e-readers all contribute. The American Optometric Association estimates that more than 60% of Americans experience symptoms regularly.
When you look at a screen, your eyes are working differently than when you look at a printed page. Digital text has lower contrast and defined edges, which forces your eyes to constantly refocus. Blue light emitted by screens also contributes to fatigue, particularly in the evening when it can suppress melatonin and disrupt sleep.
We also blink about 50% less when staring at a screen — from a normal rate of 15-20 blinks per minute down to around 7-8. Blinking is how your eyes stay lubricated, so reduced blinking directly causes dryness and irritation.
The most practical and evidence-supported habit for screen users: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This allows your focusing muscles to relax and gives your tear film a chance to recover.
Adjust your monitor. Position your screen slightly below eye level — about 4 to 5 inches — and at arm's length. Reduce glare by adjusting room lighting or adding an anti-glare screen filter.
Increase text size. Squinting at small text accelerates fatigue. If you're regularly enlarging content or leaning in to read, your prescription may need updating.
Consider blue light filtering lenses. While the research is still evolving, many patients report reduced fatigue with blue light coating on their glasses — particularly for evening screen use.
Use artificial tears. Preservative-free lubricating eye drops can help manage dryness throughout the day. If you find yourself using them more than four times daily, that warrants an evaluation for dry eye disease.
Digital eye strain is often a sign that your prescription needs updating — even small refractive errors become much more symptomatic with sustained near work. If symptoms persist despite good screen habits, or if you notice changes in your distance vision, it's worth coming in for a comprehensive exam. We can also assess your tear film and check for underlying dry eye that may be making things worse.
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