Screen time being a little too much? Here’s how to protect your eyes from blue light strain!
People tend to stay indoors a little too often in summers, due to excess heat which eventually results in more time in front of the screen. This becomes a matter of concern for our sensitive eyes.
While Blue light is not harmful initially, long exposure to it is a matter of concern as it is a type of High-energy visible (HEV) light which can give you digital-eye strain also known as computer vision syndrome.
Blue light is commonly emitted by smartphones, tablets and televisions; hence it is common to be affected by blue light.
Symptoms of Digital-eye strain include
- Dry eyes or constant irritations
- Blurry vision
- Headaches due to strain on optic nerve
- Pain in neck, shoulder or bac
- Struggling to fall asleep (especially if using digital devices before bed)
Although Digital eyestrain cannot be cured in the traditional sense, several measures are available to minimize and stop further damaging of eyes. It can be managed by adopting healthy habits and limiting the screen time and addressing the root cause can help eliminate future problems
Ready to protect your eyes from excess strain in summer?
Discover simple steps and healthy habits you can adopt to protect your eyes from digital eye strain.
Adopting 20-20-20 rule
The 20-20-20 rule suggests that for every 20 minutes you stare at the screen; you should look 20 feet away for 20 seconds, this helps in shifting the focus of eyes and helps you relax by relieving stress on the optic nerves and also breaks the prolonged exposure of blue light on your eyes.
Why is it important?
When our eyes focus on a particular plain for an extended duration of time, it engages in a state of near focusing, such continues strain can lead to irritation in the eyes, blurred vision, dryness and fatigue in eyes.
The 20-20-20 rule helps in shifting the point of focus to a faraway object to help eyes get out of the near focusing state to relieve strain.
Adjust screen settings
Screen settings have a huge impact on our eyesight, that is why it becomes essential to adjust them as per your need and surroundings.
Brightness: The brightness level on the screen should be compatible to the surrounding. You can also use the Night light feature on your digital devices to reduce strain on your eyes.
Font sizes: Adjust the font size as per your need to avoid excess strain on your eyes.
Blue-light filters: Apply Blue-light filters on your smart devices to reduce the chances of digital-eye strain.
Proper ergonomics
Keep your screen away! It is important to keep your screen at an optimal distance at eye level (about an arm’s length). This helps to reduce pain in the eyes, neck, and back.
Use of blue light glasses
Blue light glasses have special lenses which are equipped with blocking the harmful high energy visible light to some extent. Hence, these are helpful in reducing harmful glare and avoiding excess strain on the eyes.
Take regular breaks
It is essential to take breaks at regular intervals to discontinue the frequent exposure of blue light, especially in winters when our eyes are most vulnerable.
Did you know?
Taking breaks from your screen not only gives rest to your eyes but also helps you recover. Study shows that taking a break between tasks improves your productivity and reduces stress especially when breaks are strategic.
Keep yourself and your environment hydrated
Dehydration in the body can lead to dry eyes, hence it becomes important to keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of water so that your eyes can moisturize.
While you keep yourself hydrated, don't forget to do the same for your home and office.
It is common for the moisture to vanish from the air in air-conditioned environments, and then you're left with a cold and dry atmosphere in your surroundings.
To tackle this, you can install a humidifier to humidify your surroundings. It releases water droplets and steam so the air can retain moisture.
Regular eye exams
It is important to visit an eye care specialist to properly diagnose the issue if the problems persist. This way you can also check for other underlying eye problems such as nearsightedness, Astigmatism, Cataracts or even Glaucoma.
Elite eye care provides comprehensive eye examinations with a series of tests to ensure that your diagnosis is accurate.
Q&A
1. Why is the blue light harmful?
While Blue light is not harmful initially, long exposure to it is a matter of concern as it is a type of High-energy visible (HEV) light which can give you digital-eye strain also known as computer vision syndrome.
2. Why is eye care important?
Eyes are an essential part of our body, and any problem related to eyes can affect our day-to-day life gradually. It impacts our ability to read, write, and interact with things on a daily basis. Hence, it is important to take care of your eyes.