Effects of Digital Eye Strain on Your Daily Life

The average person spends over 8 hours a day staring at a screen whether it be on of our TVs, laptops, smartphones or tablets. These devices give off blue light that penetrates directly into the retinas of our eyes. In addition to the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) light, intense sunlight and artificial light, this blue light emitted from the screens of these devices causes damaging effects such as retina deterioration with varying levels of discomfort.

What is Digital Eye Strain and its causes?

Digital eye strain is very common with most people nowadays. It is an eye condition which comes about as a result of weak eyes caused by long-term use of computers and digital devices. Some of the most common symptoms of digital eye strain include; high sensitivity to light (especially bright sunlight, harsh indoor lights or night driving lights), dry and irritated eyes, blurred vision, double vision, itching eyes, red eyes, painful and strained eyes after exposure to screens, swollen eyes, eye fatigue and difficultly in adjusting to light on a bright day after moving from an outdoor to an indoor environment.

How best to treat digital eye strain?

There are several different ways in which digital eye strain can be treated or minimized as outlined below;

Wearing blue light blocking glasses

These are glasses which have filters in their lenses. They block or absorb blue light and in some cases ultraviolet light from getting through. They have anti blue light coating, absorb harmful blue light and hence help reduce exposure to light waves that keep your eyes dry or irritated. They are recommended to use when looking at a screen (especially in a dark environment). The Blue-light-blocking glasses help reduce digital eye strain and fatigue and can be purchased with or without a prescription.

Wearing photochromic glasses

Photochromic glasses are also known as light-adaptive lenses, light intelligent or variable tint lenses. They can change colors based on how much light they are absorbing. Consider using these, as they are clear (or nearly clear) indoors and darken automatically when exposed to sunlight. They provide the eyes with the best UV protection and have the best light control capabilities and so can help bring digital eye strain under control and prevent further damage to your eyes.

Other ways of treating digital eye strain include; reducing overhead lighting, maintaining proper sitting and viewing distance from your screen, minimizing screen glare by use of proper lighting, taking required breaks away from screens, exercising the eyes by blinking more often and getting enough sleep at night so as to rest the muscles of the eyes.