Remedies from Digital Eye Strain
What is Digital Eye Strain? Well the macro definition is that the use of so many electronic digital devices for such large parts of our day is causing strain on our eyes. You know when you are on your computer for several hours and your eyes feel tired, dry, and may possibly ache? – that’s what we are talking about.
Digital Eye Strain Facts and Figures
According to the Vision Council, a lot of people experience Digital Eye Strain and its symptoms every day:
• 32.6% of Americans experience eye strain
• 22.7% of Americans experience dry eyes
• 22% of Americans experience blurred vision
The Vision Council also reports that Americans are becoming more attached to our digital devices which we use daily:
• 75.6% of Americans do research on a computer
• 56.6% of Americans have their alarm on their smart phone
• 54.2% of Americans shop online using their computer
The Vision Council further shows that no age group is really safe. People using digital devices for more than 2 hours a day include:
• 87.7 percent of people 18 to 39
• 82.6 percent of people 40 to 59
• 76.3 percent of people 60 and up
The issue is, many of us don’t have a choice when it comes to using digital devices; it’s how we live our lives at work and at home. However, digital eye strain is not something you have to always live with, and there are things you can do to help.
How to Defeat Digital Eye Strain
So, this is a problem that plagues a large part of the population, and it is only expected to get worse. Here are a few suggestions to help alleviate the strain:
• Don’t stare at your digital device for hours! Take breaks about every 20 minutes or so.
• You can eliminate screen glare by minimizing any overhead lighting.
• The closer you are to the computer, the more likely it is that you are straining your eyes. You should always be about an arm’s distance away from the screen, and you can increase the text size if that helps you see. (If you can’t see the text on the screen clearly, then maybe it’s time for new glasses.)
• If you are wearing progressive lenses, make sure your monitor is below the height of your nose. This will allow you to see through the proper magnification. Do this by raising your chair or lowering your monitor.
Also, there are products that can help. In general, you will have the least amount of eye strain if you get a “computer specific” pair of eyeglasses in your prescription. At Empire, we can use one of your old frames as your computer pair, or we can make you a great deal from our $150 table (single vision lenses and anti-reflective coating included). Among the choices of computer lenses are:
• Single vision lenses in your “Intermediate” prescription.
We can determine this by taking approximately half of your reading RX and adding it to your distance RX.
• Computer Progressives.
We can make the entire upper portion of a progressive where it focuses on the monitor, and then the lower part for reading fine print. People who wear progressives as their primary lenses really love these. They are pretty awesome!
• Computer Flat Top Bifocals.
We can make a traditional “flat top” bifocal where the upper portion focuses on your monitor, and the lower portion is for reading. These also work really well for non-progressive wearers.
• Anti-reflective coatings.
These can help by reducing unwanted glare. Glare from overhead lights can cause the eyes to work extra hard and become tired easily.
Come into Empire today and talk to a salesperson about computer lenses to reduce digital eye strain.
Sources:
The Vision Council. https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/content/digital-eye-strain/