Numerous people today spend a good part of their day looking at their computer, tablet, phone, or TV. No matter whether one uses a computer all day at work or spends their personal time on social media, ultimately it would add up to a lot of hours. As Zuhal Butuner says, even though looking at screens for long hours may not ruin one’s vision permanently, it might lead to an increasingly common condition called computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain. The symptoms of this condition include headaches, blurry vision and dry eyes.
Zuhal Butuner marks a few tips that can help in reducing digital eye strain
Whenever one spends too much time on their computer, smartphone or tablet, they may experience eye strain. It is very common to have eyes feel fatigued, dry, and irritated by staring for long hours at the computer screen. To reduce this issue of digital eye strain, one should consider following these tips:
- Use proper lighting: Digital eye strain might get worse due to excessively bright light from outdoor sunlight coming in through a window or from harsh interior lighting. Closing window blinds or shades can help lower exterior light. To lower interior lighting, one can simply use fewer light bulbs and lower intensity tubes. One should try to position their laptop or computer in a manner that windows are to the side, instead of being in front of or behind the screen. Working under bright fluorescent lights should also be avoided. Rather, people may use a floor or table lamp that provides softer, indirect lighting.
- Minimize glare: Glare from light reflecting back from the screen or some other surface in the room might contribute to greater compute eye strain. One should try to install an anti-glare screen protector if possible. It would also be a good idea to repaint reflective or bright walls to a more soothing hue with a matte finish. If a person wears glasses, they should buy lenses with anti-reflective (AR) coating. This coating helps lowering glare by minimizing the amount of light reflecting off the front and back surfaces of the eyeglass lenses.
- Upgrade the display: If one is working on an old laptop or computer, one should try to upgrade to a new device with the latest, high-resolution screen technology, if possible. One should also consider purchasing a device with a larger screen for an easier viewing experience.
- Adjust computer display settings: Adjusting the diverse display settings of the computer appropriately can help lower eye strain and fatigue. The brightness of the display should ideally be the same as the brightness as the surroundings. The text size and contrast of the display additionally must be adjusted as per the comfort of a person, especially if they are to read or compose long documents,
As per Zuhal Butuner, in addition to the tips discussed above, having a routine comprehensive eye exam is also important for preventing or treating digital vision problems. During the exam, one has to clearly tell the ophthalmologist how often they use a computer at work and at home.