Digital Eye Strain | North York

Resting Your Eyes

Spending time in front of a digital screen seems inevitable nowadays. Whether you are using a computer, smartphone, tablet, or other digital screen, digital eye strain can affect your eyes.

At Toronto Medical Eye Associates, we recognize that digital eye strain can cause discomfort and put a dent in your productivity.

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What Causes Digital Eye Strain?

Digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome, can result from spending long hours in front of a digital screen without breaks. Intense focus on a digital screen can make your eyes work harder when you are trying to maintain a clear image of the screen.

The effects of digital eye strain can be made worse by preexisting vision conditions such as myopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia.

Common symptoms of digital eye strain can include:

Blurred vision
Eyestrain
Headaches
Dry eyes

Digital eye strain symptoms can develop due to various factors, including your workstation setup or improper viewing distances.

Digital Eye Strain Management

The first step you can take to manage digital eye strain is visiting us for a comprehensive eye exam. During your examination, your doctor will discuss your symptoms and review your screen usage habits.

When getting to the bottom of your eye strain issues, there are some factors to consider:

How many hours a day you use a computer
The distance from your eyes to your screen
The setup of your workstation
What the lighting is like in your workspace

A comprehensive eye exam can help your doctor determine whether digital eye strain is the cause of your discomfort or if it is another vision issue. When navigating digital eye strain, there are some management options you can use to find some relief.

Practice the 20-20-20 Rule

Using a digital screen for long periods of time can strain and dry out your eyes. Focusing on your task is important, but so is taking a break.

The 20-20-20 rule is an excellent way to give your eyes some much-needed rest. The 20-20-20 rule involves:

Looking away from your screen every 20 minutes
Focusing on something 20 feet away
Looking at it for at least 20 seconds

Eye Drops

Intensely focusing while working is quite common, and sometimes you can forget to blink. Forgetting to blink enough can result in dry eyes and, in turn, digital eye strain—artificial tear eye drops can help provide relief.

Monitor Your Lighting

Proper lighting for your workstation can be essential to preventing digital eye strain. If your workstation has lighting that’s too dim or too bright, it can affect your eyes negatively.

Adjusting your screen brightness so that you don’t have to squint or strain your eyes can assist with prevention. Glare can also contribute to eye strain, so a good lighting situation can help prevent digital eye strain.

Relief from Digital Eye Strain

Digital eye strain can develop over time throughout your daily life. The reliance on digital screens in today’s world makes practicing good vision care essential. At Toronto Medical Eye Associates, we use diagnostic technology to help manage your unique visual needs.

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Say Goodbye to Dry Eye

Do you suffer from dry eye symptoms?

Dry eye is a common condition that can cause your eyes to feel uncomfortable and irritated. Don’t let dry eye stop you from living your life. Dr. Taji is a trusted voice on dry eye disease and has hosted many lectures and presentations on diagnosis and treatment.

You can feel confident in your dry eye treatment with our team. Contact us today to book your dry eye evaluation and get relief sooner.

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