How To Save Your Eyes From Screen Fatigue

Tired Eyes? Here Are 7 Ways To Save Eyes From Computer Fatigue

The time we spend staring at screens these days is higher than ever, between looking at the computer for work, texting on our cell phones, and browsing social media, it’s no wonder our eyes need a break! But, most of us can’t take a break from using our computers and other screens as they are vital parts of our day-to-day lives from working, socializing, and communicating with loved ones. So, here are seven ways to save your eyes from computer and screen fatigue.

Blue Light Blocking Glasses

These are non-prescription glasses that block the blue light that is emitted from digital screens. Blue light can cause strain, and dry, watery, and irritated eyes and it can also mess up your circadian rhythm, leading to poor sleep. The blue light blocking glasses have special lenses that block or filter out the blue light that is given off by digital screens, therefore protecting your peepers and saving your from computer fatigue.

Matte Screen Cover

Glossy screens with sharp pixels are beautiful to look at, but the glare that they create can wear out our eyes. A matte screen cover can help transmit less light from the computer, reducing the glare on the screen from bright lights, and making it easier on your eyes.

Higher Resolution Screens

This is an expensive, yet effective option. Purchasing a screen that is higher resolution will display the text on your screen at a quality similar to print. The less blurry the letters are, the less tired your eyes will become from straining to read the text. Old-fashioned CRT screens can often cause a noticeable flicker of images, this is a major cause of eye strain. When choosing a new display, choose one that is large and easy to read when sitting at a proper distance from the computer. Sitting too close will also cause eye strain and fatigue.

Take Breaks

When you take a break from your work, make sure you step away from your computer. You want to incorporate a few 15-minute breaks away from the computer per day in order to rest and reset your eyes. So, don’t spend your lunch break growing the internet or looking at social media. Make your breaks screen-free to preserve your eyes from fatigue.

Check The Lighting To Reduce Glare

Bright lighting and too much glare is extremely straining for the eyes. If you have fluorescent lighting in your office or sunlight, see if it’s possible to turn the lights off or down and close the blinds or shades. It’s important to avoid placing your computer monitor in front of a window or white wall in order to prevent a harsh glare. If possible switching to “full spectrum” fluorescent lighting that closely mimics the light emitted from the sun can be more comfortable than working directly under bright fluorescent light tubes.

Adjust Your Settings

Adjust the following computer settings for optimal viewing:

• Brightness: Adjust the brightness of your computer display so it’s the same brightness as your surrounding workstation.
• Text size & contrast: Adjust the size of the text and contrast depending on your comfort level. This is especially important to avoid squinting at the screen when reading long documents and proposals.
• Color temperature: This term refers to the spectrum of visible light that is emitted by the computer’s color display.  Blue light, as we mentioned, is associated with more eye strain. You’ll want to adjust your colors by reducing the color temperature to lower the amount of blue light. Go towards the longer wavelength hues like orange and red for less strain.

Exercise Your Eyes

Another common cause of computer eye strain is focusing fatigue. In order to reduce your risk of fatigue by constantly looking and focusing on your screen, try to look away from the computer every 20 minutes and gaze at an object in the distance. Looking far away relaxes the focusing muscle in your eye, allowing for reduced fatigue. Another exercise you can do is to look at a far away object for 10-15 seconds and then look at something up close for 10-15 seconds, then look back at the object that is far away. Do this then times. This is a great exercise to reduce the risk of locking up your eyes’ ability to focus.