Digital Eye Strain Care | Wichita, KS

Relieve Digital Eye Strain

The way we interact with the world is continually evolving. We interact, learn, and connect with others through digital devices: computers, smartphones, tablets, and TVs.

With this increase in device use, nearly 70% of Americans experience the effects of digital eye strain. Though generally mild and cause no long-term complications, the symptoms of eye strain are both uncomfortable and may impact workplace productivity.

If you’re experiencing discomfort while using digital devices, visit us for an eye exam. We can help manage any underlying conditions that are worsening eye strain and provide advice and personalized eyewear to restore your comfort.

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Symptoms of Eye Strain

Although symptoms are temporary and generally mild, they can also be uncomfortable and even painful. Symptoms include:

Eye fatigue (hard to keep your eyes open)
Sore, burning, or itchy eyes
Watery or dry eyes
Sore neck, shoulders, and upper back
Headaches
Blurry or double vision
Difficulty focusing and concentrating

Why We Experience Eye Strain

Eye strain can be caused by prolonged periods spent concentrating on specific tasks, including:

Reading
Driving long distances
Exposure to bright light or glare
Straining to see in dim lighting
Working with an uncorrected refractive error
Exposure to dry, moving air from a fan, heating unit, or air-conditioning system

Eye strain can be exacerbated with device use because when we work on computers or smartphones, we tend to:

Blink less often
Use devices at unideal distances and angles
Use devices with screen glare or reflections
Use devices with poor screen contrast and brightness

Additionally, when we read or focus on a display, our eye focusing muscles begin to fatigue. Because of this, reading and computer usage are both known to be major causes of eye strain.

Treatments to Relieve Eye Strain

To confirm that your discomfort is caused by eye strain and not an underlying eye condition, you should have a comprehensive eye exam.

During this exam, Dr. Baldwin will assess your focusing system to determine an effective method to relieve your eye strain. She may prescribe contact lenses or glasses with specialized features designed to alleviate eye strain caused by computers, smartphones, and other devices.

These may be spectacles you could wear all the time or ones you only wear while doing heavy computer work.

There are also a few habits and environmental modifications that you can employ to reduce strain at home or in the office.

Taking frequent breaks gives the eyes a reprieve from intense focusing and introduces mobility and variation in posture.

You can follow the 20-20-20 rule to remind yourself to take a break: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This forces the eyes to focus on something else, giving your eye muscles a chance to relax.

Adopting proper workplace ergonomics will also help reduce eye strain, headaches, and sore neck and back muscles. Keep your monitor at arm’s length, keep your wrists straight and hands at or below elbow level, and choose a chair that supports and encourages proper posture.

Environmental changes like reducing glare and increasing ambient lighting make it easier for the eye to focus, reducing strain on the muscles.

Try to prevent placing your computer screen in front of a window or directly below a large light where the glare will reflect off your screen. As well, try to match the lighting in the room to the brightness of your device, and avoid working in dark rooms.

Visit Us for Relief of Digital Eye Strain

Eye strain is not something you need to just push through. There are many options available to provide relief, depending on different factors that could be contributing to your symptoms.

Schedule an appointment to meet with one of our optometrists. They will assess your eye strain, check for underlying conditions, assess your current prescription, and ask questions about your experience before providing appropriate next steps to treat and manage symptoms.

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