Screen Fatigue

Technology is wonderful! We can find information about nearly anything we want, we can watch movies, attend meetings, and read books, all with access to a computer. But what happens when we spend a bit too much time in front of our screen? 

Spending excessive time in front of screens can result in screen fatigue, or computer vision syndrome. Screen fatigue can cause dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, or neck pain. Apparently, our eyes have to work harder to focus when looking at a screen and “studies show that humans blink half the usual amount of time when using computers. Blinking leaves a thin layer of tear film over the front of the eye, helping the eye to focus properly. Not blinking can cause images to look blurry and lead to dry eye.” However, there isn’t any scientific evidence that staring at a computer screen for extended periods of time does permanent damage, so that’s good news.  

Prevention

There are a number of ways you can help prevent eye strain. If you wear eyeglasses, make sure your doctor knows the type of computer work you do so that your prescription is the best for the job. You might benefit from a lens that is specifically designed for computer work. 

Take breaks throughout the day to do tasks that are not at the computer. It’s always good to stretch and move throughout the day, but this will also help give your eyes a rest.

Try This

If you do need to be in front of a screen for extended periods of time, then you can practice the 20-20-20 rule : every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 

References:

• SCREEN FATIGUE AND HOW TO FIGHT IT
• Computer-Related Eye Fatigue
• Computer vision syndrome