Eyes & Tech

ALL ABOUT DIGITAL EYE FATIGUE

30% OF ADULTS SPEND MORE THAN 9
HOURS ON A DIGITAL DEVICE

Technology plays a bigger part in our lives than ever before. Whether you're at work on a computer, at lunch checking your smartphone, or relaxing with a good book on an e-reader, your digital devices are at the heart of everything you do, every day. They connect us to the world and to each other.

WHAT CAUSES DIGITAL EYE FATIGUE?**

Digital eye fatigue refers to a wide range of physical symptoms you may feel when you’re working on a computer or other digital device frequently, or, for prolonged time periods. Eye fatigue symptoms vary because everyone has different habits, but the most common are blurred vision, squinting, dry eyes, shoulder and neck stiffness, and headaches. Digital eye fatigue has also been cited to speed up age-related macular degeneration. If you’re using a digital device for more than two hours at a time, you may be feeling the effects of digital eye fatigue. But don’t worry; there is eye fatigue relief and its symptoms are both preventable and treatable.

As technology continues being a huge part of our daily lives, it’s important to think about digital eye fatigue and what steps you can take to make it better.

TOP 8 WAYS TO EASE DIGITAL EYE FATIGUE**

1. Break up your screen time. Make the 20-20-20 a good habit. Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break to look at something 20 feet away.

2. Revamp your work station. You should be close enough to high five the screen. Sit in your chair, extend your arm so your palm is resting comfortably on the monitor; it should be about 20-26 inches away. Good posture prevents an achy back, shoulders and neck.

3. Adjust your screen position. Reduce computer eye fatigue by positioning the screen directly in front of your face – never tilted – and slightly below eye level.

4. Get the right lighting. Reduce overhead and surrounding light; it competes with your screen and makes your eyes work harder to see. Use indirect light sources to reduce glare.

5. Personalize your computer display settings. Bump up the text size. Adjust the brightness. If the white background you’re reading looks like a light source, make the setting dimmer. If it looks dull and gray, make it brighter. You can even adjust the color temperature to reduce the amount of blue light emitted by a color display.

6. Blink often. Remind yourself to blink to reduce dryness in your eyes. This is one of the most important tips. Breathe. Blink. Breathe. Blink.

7. Get an eye exam*. Be sure to tell your doctor how much time you spend in front of a computer or device. Your eye doctor can evaluate any symptoms of digital eye fatigue, as well as discuss lens options or lifestyle changes for alleviating and protecting against future discomfort. Your eye doctor can evaluate any symptoms of digital eye fatigue, as well as discuss non prescription glasses, or lifestyle changes for alleviating and protecting against future discomfort.

8. Get blue light lenses to view content on a digital screen. They’re available with or without a prescription. We recommend Featherwates® BlueIQ lenses to help reduce up to 90 percent of reflections.

GENERATIONALLY SPEAKING, WHO’S ON?