Digital eye strain is one of the most common occurrences in this screen-dependent world. Whether it’s children plopped in front of the television watching Cocomelon, adults having virtual meetings left and right, teenagers indulging in the latest virtual reality video games, or seniors enjoying the latest word find app, we’re all basically just staring at screens the whole day. While it’s unlikely that you’ll go blind from screen time, it’s also true that your vision will likely be affected due to eye strain. A visit to your optometrist in Melbourne will definitely do the trick and make sure your eyesight is at its peak game, along with other things you could do, such as:
Use lubricant
It’s definitely helpful to use eye drops every 2-3 hours or whenever your eyes feel dry and tired. This is especially ideal when you are in a warm and dry room or in a cold room. Eye drops are like artificial tears that keep your eyes well lubricated and moisturised so that it will become less strained from screen use.
Put on your eyeglasses
use the eyeglasses that your favourite optometrist prescribed to you. If your job requires you to stare at a computer screen for many hours at a time, you’ll soon realise that your eyeglasses actually help your eyes from becoming too tired or too exposed from screen brightness. Talk to your eye care specialist about having eyeglasses and to help you figure out the correct glasses prescription.
Don’t forget to blink
Did you know that the normal frequency for blinking is about 15 times per minute? However, with the screen age, we sometimes forget to blink often because we’re too focused on the content we’re watching or reading. Just remember to blink every few seconds, and you’ll instantly feel relief. Do this as a conscious effort to keep your eyes from drying out.
Zoom out
Have you ever experienced where your vision just zooms out of focus? This is one way for your eyes to take an occasional break by losing focus or blurring out. You can consciously do this by simply looking away from whatever screen you’re looking at and looking at a distant object far away. Focus on that distant object, then focus back on your screen. Do this every couple of times throughout the day, and you’ll notice a significant difference in how strained your eyes are after a few hours.
Position yourself
Remember that one of the common causes of tiredness and digital exhaustion is poor posture when you’re sitting down while scrolling through your phone or tablet. Also, it’s wrong to position your computer screen or laptop at eye level. Your eyes should be looking slightly downward, not straight ahead and definitely not looking up.
Today’s digital world definitely has its distinct advantages, especially with gadgets that make our lives infinitely more convenient. Smartphones, laptops, paper-thin tablets, e-readers, and other gadgets undoubtedly make our lives easier and more entertaining but at the potential risk to our eyes as well. Make sure you avoid this risk by visiting your optometrist to understand how optimum eye care is achieved.
