Protecting Your Vision From Excessive Screen Time

Our reliance on digital devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets has made them indispensable in our day-to-day lives. It’s hard to imagine a day without them. We spend hours each day reading off these modern wonders. The optometrist at Paul Thompson, OD wants to point out that nearly half of us will suffer symptoms of digital eye strain - also known as computer vision syndrome - because of the dependence on these devices.

What are the signs of this condition, and how can we avoid it?

• Symptoms include irritated, burning, dry eyes from reduced tear production; eye strain and fatigue; blurred vision or difficulty focusing; headaches; and neck and shoulder pain from poor posture. 
• Experts recommend taking 20-minute breaks from screens during which users look away from the device and focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Adjusting the settings on your computer and smartphone to reduce brightness will help reduce glare.
• Your screen ideally should be positioned at eye level.
• Blinking frequently is a good way to prevent dry eye by promoting moisture.

Let’s not forget about our TV screens when it comes to protecting our eyesight. Although the size of the screen is not necessarily a major worry, here are a few recommendations to consider:

• A television is best positioned at eye level, regardless of whether it’s on a wall or the top of a table. If the TV is above eye level, the strain of constantly looking up will eventually affect your eye and neck muscles.
• In terms of how close you should be from the TV screen, manufacturers generally suggest sitting at least six times the distance from the screen as the screen is tall for standard definition sets, although closer distances may be optimal for higher-definition televisions.

The optometrist at Paul Thompson, OD hopes these tips are helpful, and we invite you to schedule a complete checkup to safeguard your vision, one of nature’s most precious gifts! 

By Paul Thompson, OD

September 30, 2024