The industrial revolution has brought us the gift of a computing system, from thick ones to compact ones. The vast digitalization has reshaped our lifestyle to the extent where we will always be looking at some screens, be it the TV, laptop, or a smartphone. These electronics are now incorporated into our day-to-day activities; even when you don't have any important agendas at home, you'd still be watching Netflix for hours or scrolling through TikTok for god knows how long.
From this habit that we developed, many people are still not aware of how important it is not to spend too much time looking at the screen. This is due to the fact that it can cause discomfort and tiredness to the eye muscle, resulting in the birth of digital eyestrain, which can cause headaches, irritated eyes, blurry vision, and pain in the neck, back, or shoulder. The American Optometric Association describes this condition as computer vision syndrome a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader, and smartphone use.
The underlining causes of digital eyestrain are because of holding a digital device too far or too close to your eyes, being exposed to extended amounts of blue light, focusing on a single task for a long time, being in an inadequately lit environment (either too dim or too bright), poor sitting posture, uncorrected vision problems, or a combination of these factors. The extent to which individuals experience symptoms usually depends on the level of their visual abilities and the amount of time spent looking at a digital screen.
If you don't want to experience the discomfort of digital eyestrain, you might need to pay attention to the precautions mentioned below.
Always practice the 20-20-20 rule
When you engage in a single activity for a long period of time without giving yourself a break, it's one of the times where eyestrain often occurs. So, if you need to get that task done before your deadline, make sure to look away from the screen frequently.
One method is called the 20-20-20 rule, where it is suggested that you shift your focus 20 feet away from the screen every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds. The 20-20-20 rule is something that you should keep in mind.
Minimize discomfort from blue light and glare
First step you should do about lighting from digital screens is to make sure that the brightness adjustment is adequately needed. Ideally, light should come from behind our figure when we are focusing intensely on an activity. Dimming the lights may help reduce eyestrain when watching TV.
Comes from LED light, fluorescent lighting, as well as digital screens is what they call blue light. If we are exposed to blue light, there's a chance that it can affect our vision over the long term. You can minimize glare on the computer screen by using a glare reduction filter or any other special lens and coatings. Also, it's crucial to keep your screens clean from dirt and fingerprints to decrease glare and improve clarity.
Adjust work area and computer for comfort
Correct distance and proper position is also an essential step in preventing eyestrain. Place the computer screen 16 to 30 inches away from you. You should view the screen at the level of your eyes or slightly below them and tilt the top of the screen away at a 10- to 20- degree angle. This goes for handheld digital devices, too: They should be read below the eye level.
Don't forget these useful digital eyestrain prevention to keep the health of your valuable eyes! You only got two of them.
(HAI/MEL)