The latest technology can improve your professional performance, leisure experiences and vacation planning, but all these screens aren’t benefiting your eyes or vision. If you are working in the current job market, your job probably involves spending a reasonable amount of your day in front of a computer or screen. In fact, you might even spend your leisure time surfing the web, watching videos and otherwise using a myriad of screens.
Constantly staring at your computer and mobile screens can cause digital eye strain, an ailment that can reduce your eyes’ ability to see and focus. If diagnosed in a timely fashion, you can work with your eye care professional to treat and eliminate the strain.
The issue with mobile and computer screens is they make reading much more difficult than it has to be. While you almost literally have the world’s libraries at your fingertips, the pixels on your screen cannot define the letters, words and images as precisely as print. The contrast between the content and background is more intense and you have to deal with glare, reflection and backlighting.
Ultimately, that adds up to a lot of light directed at your eyes and more focus and energy required to read. Because of the constant exertion and compounding fatigue, many individuals are developing digital eyestrain.
The best way to cope with digital eye strain is to prevent it from developing. Start with your work environment. Ensure your space is well lit and move screens to minimize strain. Take regular breaks from your screen to rest your eyes.
Should you continue to experience discomfort, give us a call so you and an Optometrist can discuss the best way to treat your digital eye strain.
Your resting point of accommodation, or RPA, is where your eyes naturally focus when you aren’t looking at anything in particular. For most individuals, this spot is located around 31.5 inches in front of their eyes.
If you think about where you usually hold your devices, you’ll probably hold them in front of your RPA, which causes your eyes to strain to keep the screen in focus. On handheld devices, the smaller text compounds the strain and fatigue that results from extended exertion and concentration.
