Most of the jobs in today’s economy require you to sit in front of a computer. Whether you are a content creator, a web developer, or even an architect, you need the help of computer technology to get the job done.
Though this does make life easier, there are certain downsides to being glued to a screen all day. There are both physical and mental manifestations to this, as well as secondary effects on your life.
The mental effects of excessive screen time include impaired social skills, weakened emotional judgement, and delayed learning in children. The physical effects include an increased risk of being overweight, chronic health conditions, and eye strain.
Eye Strain: Symptoms
Eye strain is commonly caused by staring at a screen for too long. Your eyes are not made for continuously looking at a screen, and putting them through this can have a severe effect on them.
Sometimes, you might not even notice that your eyes are strained, because you might not see any obvious symptoms like pain. Some of the things to look out for are mentioned below.
Dryness
When you’re staring at a screen for too long, your brain forgets to make your eyes blink at their regular frequency. This can cause the film of tears on your eyes to evaporate, making your eyes dry.
Headaches
Pain does not always occur directly in the eyes, and you might feel its effects in other parts of the body. Headaches are the most common symptoms of eye fatigue, and you should try to reduce your screen time if you’re getting constant headaches.
Blurred Vision
You might start noticing that things do not appear as clear as they used to if you’ve spent the entire day in front of a computer screen. This does not necessarily mean that you would need prescription glasses to correct your vision, but you might need to take it easy to avoid this problem. You can learn more about this by checking out this article on Eye Strain Symptoms.
Now that you know what to look out for, you can follow some tips to ensure that your eyes do not suffer permanent damage from your screen time. Some of these tips are mentioned below.
Tips to Reduce Eye Strain
If you spend day after day sitting in front of the computer, you can do a few easy things in your allotted time to make it easier for your eyes. These tips will help reduce eye strain and have a healthier set of eyes.
Drink Water
You can keep your eyes hydrated by keeping your body hydrated. Keep drinking water regularly throughout the day. If you have dry eyes, you can use over the counter hydrating eye drops as well.
Take Breaks
Taking a break from your screen is important. Make sure you look at distant natural objects for a while to help relieve your eyes. Taking a break and stretching a little can also help you relieve body ache at the end of the day.
Remember to Blink
Every time you blink, your eyelids make sure that your eye is properly hydrated. Though it can be difficult to remember to blink, as it is an involuntary action, try to blink as often and naturally as you can while working behind a screen.
Diet
Some foods are naturally good for your eyes, and having a diet rich in Vitamin A, C, and E can help you take better care of your eyes. Fruits and nuts are excellent sources of these vitamins.
Sleep
If you do not get enough shuteye, your eyes won’t have the time or energy to recuperate from a long day. Sleeping rejuvenates and refreshes your eyes, so make sure that you get the right amount of hours of sleep every night.
Lighting
Make sure that your screen is not too bright, and that your surroundings are not too dim. The more the difference in brightness between your surroundings and your screen, the more difficult it is for your eyes.
The Bottom Line
You only get one set of eyes, and taking care of them is of the utmost importance. You do not want to invest in glasses or lenses for the rest of your life just because you did not take proper care of your eyes.
We hope that this article has given you a good idea about what you can do to prevent eye strain and live healthier. Good luck with your work!
