What exactly is the screen’s effect on eyes?
There are several symptoms to look out for, and they vary slightly depending on whether you use a computer or a smartphone. Let’s take a look at some of those symptoms, and how you can avoid them.
Computer Eye Strain Symptoms
The most common symptoms of eye strain are headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and in extreme cases, neck and shoulder pain.
Let’s take a look at how to protect eyes from screens.
How To Protect Eyes From Computer Screen
•Use The 20/20/20 Rule
•USE AN ANTI-GLARE FILTER
•Ensure Your Room Is Well Lit
•CONSIDER ANTI-GLARE GLASSES
•Have Regular Eye Exams
•ADJUST YOUR SCREEN SETTINGS
•Reduce Glare
•Use High-Resolution Screens
•BLINK MORE
•Reduce Blue Light
Use The 20/20/20 Rule
Your eyes aren’t designed to stare all day at something directly in front of you. With the 20/20/20 rule, you give your eyes a much-needed break during long work days.
If you look at the screen for 20 minutes, you must look at something at least 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds. The longer you look away from your screen, though, the better!
USE AN ANTI-GLARE FILTER
Anti-glare screen filters are a simple way to cut down on the amount of light that reflects off of your computer screen while you work. The result is a more pleasant viewing experience that won’t result in eye fatigue and strain.
Ensure Your Room Is Well Lit
It may sound counterintuitive, but less light in your room is actually better for your eyes when you’re working on a computer. Offices shouldn’t be too bright, so when possible, close your curtains and reduce your use of fluorescent lighting.
CONSIDER ANTI-GLARE GLASSES
Anti-glare glasses have a coating that reduces glare and reflections to protect your eyes. This is an excellent option if you use laptops, cell phones, and other devices along with standard desktop computers.
Have Regular Eye Exams
Regular eye exams help you keep your eye health in check and ensure your problems aren’t worse than normal eye strain. It also gives you a great opportunity to talk to an expert about your habits and eye health!
ADJUST YOUR SCREEN SETTINGS
Electronic manufacturers are pushing the boundaries with vivid screens that display colors and images that appear vibrant and bright. While this may look stunning, your eyes weren’t meant to look at bright, vivid screens for hours at a time. Going into your computer’s settings and turning down the brightness and backlight can go a long way in preventing eye strain.
Reduce Glare
Glare on your computer screen can cause eye strain, as it stops your eyes adjusting as easily as they should to the content you’re trying to focus on.
Use an anti-glare matte screen where possible (rather than glass-covered LCD's).
Use High-Resolution Screens
Most people don’t have to use CRT screens anymore. Those are the old computer screens with low refresh rates that created a noticeable flicker that made your eyes feel uncomfortable.
Today, screens typically offer refresh rates of 75Hz or more. The higher, the better. Furthermore, screens with higher resolutions appear more lifelike. When you can’t see the pixels, your eyes don’t work as hard to make sense of the images in front of you.
BLINK MORE
Did you know that when you stare at a screen for long periods of time, it causes you to blink less often? When you blink less, your eyes can become dry and irritated, increasing the risk of eye problems. When at the computer, make it a point to blink normally and fully. If you find that your eyes feel dry, use artificial years to keep them moist.
Reduce Blue Light
Blue light has a short wave-length and is known for causing damage to the eye. Reduce blue light by using specialist glasses or reduce the color temperature of your screen. It’s ideal for long-term use.
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