Most adults are on digital media for about four to six hours daily. As a remote worker, you may be racking up even more hours than usual in front of a brightly lit screen.
According to the Vision Council, nearly 49% of American adults say they don’t know what digital eye strain is-and nearly 35% aren’t concerned about the impact of digital device usage on their eyes.
Eye fatigue is caused by staring at screens for long periods of time. You may have eye strain if you have the following symptoms:
- Sore, burning or itching eyes
- Watery eyes
- Dry eyes
- Blurred or double vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
The simple solution to eye strain is to limit the time you spend in front of screens, but that can be especially tough when working at a computer is part of your job. Instead, it comes down to being mindful about interacting with screens throughout the day. Even if you are a computer bound worker, eye strain is preventable and mitigable. Here are ways to help reduce eye strain:
- Reduce Try turning down your monitor’s brightness and cleaning the screen regularly.
- Dim If possible, dim any other competing light in the room. Try to configure your workspace away from front- or back-facing windows. If that’s not possible, consider applying a removable anti- glare filter on the screen to reduce sunlight glare.
- Increase font If you feel your eyes straining to read, increase the size of the text.
- Wear computer Blue- light-blocking computer glasses filter the light from your screen to reduce strain.
- Blink Your eyes may feel dry simply because you’re staring and have forgotten to blink.
- Practice the 20-20-20 rule. Look away from your screen every 20 minutes at something 20 feet away for at least 20
If you’re experiencing eye strain symptoms and at-home adjustments aren’t working, consult your eye doctor. This is especially important if you’re experiencing prolonged discomfort or vision changes.