Digital Eye Strain

Building Strategies to Protect Your Vision

We live in a digital age where we spend more time in front of screens than ever before. While technology allows us to explore, invent, and innovate, it can also negatively impact our health.

Roughly 50% of computer users experience digital eye strain, which can be disruptive and distracting during the workday and after hours.

At Visual Sense Eye Care, we work with our patients to implement strategies that minimize the effects of digital eye strain, making a more pleasant and comfortable browsing experience in the office and at home.

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What is Digital Eye Strain?

The human eye was designed to focus on objects at varying distances in various light levels. However, with today’s technology world with multiple digital interfaces and screens and devices, many people spend the majority of their day focusing on near objects. The eye muscles have to hold a certain position to maintain this focus, which eventually becomes exhausting.

Think of it this way:

Crouching down into a squat is not necessarily uncomfortable. After a few minutes, you would likely want to straighten up into a more natural position. After 15 minutes, your back and legs would ache. And after 3 hours, you would be in significant pain.

The way we use digital devices often forces us to focus our eyes in one position, which, over time, becomes uncomfortable.

Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain

• Sore, irritated, or burning eyes.
• Heavy eyelids
• Dry eyes
• Blurry or double vision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Headaches
• Neck, back, and shoulder pain

What Causes Digital Eye Strain?

Most recent research agrees that one of the main sources of digital eye strain is extensive near focus. The average reader holds a book approximately 40 cm from their face while reading. Meanwhile, the average person holds a smartphone approximately 32 cm from their face. The closer your eyes are to an object, the harder they have to work.

There’s also an element of dry eyes contributing to digital eye strain. On average, we blink up to 21 times a minute. But when we’re working at a computer or looking at a digital device, that number drops by 60%. A lower blink rate means your eyes can start to dry out, which can lead to irritation.