The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic forced people worldwide to adapt rapidly, and changed the way many of us work. You may now be noticing eye strain caused by extra time in front of digital screens. Between Zoom conferences, working at home, and scrolling through social media feeds, your eyes are absorbing a lot of blue light that can negatively affect your vision.

Here are some helpful hints to follow to reduce eye strain to help you preserve your vision and eye health.

1. Give Your Eyes a Break

In an office setting, you have several daily opportunities to step away from the screen, and you should continue doing so at home. We suggest implementing the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes in front of your computer or tablet, pause and focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Also, set a timer each hour to get up and stretch, perhaps do calisthenics, or pet your dog or cat. Go for a brief walk to remind yourself there’s life beyond your computer screen.

2. Blink

People usually blink 15 to 20 times per minute. However, while staring at a glowing object, your blinking reduces to five to seven during the same timeframe.

Blinking keeps your eyes moist and washes out irritating debris. So, while working on your computer, clearing emails on your phone, or relaxing while reading your social media, blink. We promise you won’t miss anything.

3. Adjust Your Screen Display Settings

It’s possible to adjust the settings on many computers, tablets, and smartphones to be easier on your eyes. Keep the screen the same brightness for your work, not too dark or bright. The same holds true for tablets and cellphones with a darker mode to show white letters reversed out of a black background. This setting is easier on the eyes.

You can also increase text size, so your eyes won’t strain to read. Also, wearing coated glasses while in front of your screen minimizes blue light’s effects, which leads us to our next tip.

4. Buy Glasses That Block Blue Light

You can purchase reading glasses with a unique coating to block harmful blue light emitted by your digital screens. These glasses also come in prescription strength.

5. Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam

Regular eye exams are an excellent way to relieve digital eye strain symptoms and check your eyes’ overall health. Screen time might not be the reason for your headaches or blurry vision. You may need an updated prescription for glasses or contacts.

Also, eye strain may be because of weak eyes causing poor vision. There are multiple eye procedures to resolve these issues, like LASIK, Karma, and treatment for nearsightedness.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey to better vision, contact Will Vision & Laser Centers today. We’re excited to welcome you into our practice and for you to “See the Difference.”

The post Simple Ways to Reduce Computer Eye Strain appeared first on Will Vision.

“Don’t sit too close to the TV, you’ll ruin your eyes.” We’ve all been told a time or two that sitting too close to the TV can ruin vision. Does it really? How close is too close to the TV? Find out below.

Does Sitting Close to the TV Damage Your Vision?

When you watch TV, sit where you like, close or far. Although you’ve probably heard that sitting too close to a TV can damage your eyes, this isn’t based in science or reality. The truth is, you can sit close to the TV without any permanent eye damage. Sitting close to the TV isn’t dangerous to your health or your vision.
If your child is sitting close to the TV, this could be a sign of a vision problem. Often children with nearsightedness sit close to TVs and computers, or hold books right in front of their eyes. If you see your child struggling to see, take them to an eye doctor and get their vision checked. The TV didn’t cause the damage, but it may help you to discover the problem and get your child the help they need.

Do TVs Cause Eye Strain?

Although TVs don’t cause permanent eye damage, they can cause eye strain, a common condition that can lead to eye pain, blurry vision, and headaches. Eye strain often occurs after too much screen time, but is more frequent when you’re sitting close to the TV or watching from an odd angle. Eye strain can be irritating, but don’t worry, it’s only temporary.
If you do get eye strain, the treatment is simple. Most eye doctors recommend resting the eyes. Turn off the TV, step away from the computer, and let your eyes rest. The problem should resolve within a few hours or after a good night’s sleep.

My Vision Is Declining. What Can I Do?

If you’ve experienced changes in your vision, come see us. The problem isn’t your TV, but odds are, it’s very treatable. We can treat virtually all patients with near or farsightedness and astigmatism. Imagine the freedom of being able to enjoy life without the need for glasses or corrective lenses! If your vision isn’t where it should be, don’t blame your TV. Come and get state-of-the-art Lasik instead.

Contact us today and discover your best vision.

The post How Close Is Too Close to the TV? appeared first on Will Vision.