What is Computer Eye Strain?
Computer eye strain, also known as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome, is a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged use of computers, tablets, e-readers, and smartphones. It's characterized by symptoms such as eye discomfort, fatigue, blurred vision, dry eyes, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain. These symptoms are often caused by poor lighting, screen glare, improper viewing distances, poor seating posture, uncorrected vision problems, or a combination of these factors. The strain on the eyes is typically exacerbated by the need to focus on small text and images, and the reduced blinking rate associated with staring at digital screens, which can lead to dry and irritated eyes. Regular breaks, proper lighting, and ergonomically arranged workstations can help mitigate these symptoms.
How can computer eye strain be minimized?
Mitigating computer eye strain involves several strategies focused on improving work environment and habits. Adjusting the computer display settings to ensure comfortable brightness and contrast levels, along with enlarging text size, can reduce strain. Positioning the screen about an arm's length away, at slightly below eye level, minimizes neck strain and promotes proper viewing angles. Using anti-glare screens or positioning the computer to avoid glare from lighting can also help. Regular breaks, following the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds), are crucial to rest the eyes. Additionally, ensuring proper ambient lighting that is neither too bright nor too dim, and using artificial tear drops if needed, can alleviate symptoms. For those with prescription glasses, specialized computer glasses with blue light filtering may be beneficial.