by Dr. Mabel Bishnoi
Spending long periods of time looking at computers, laptops, mobiles, video games or tablet screens could seriously strain the eyes, and life in the digital era means that we are all at risk. Add to that the hot and dry winds that prevail in summer and spring in Kuwait, and staying indoors isn’t much better as air conditioners just worsen things.
Digital Eye Strain affects adults and kids alike, it is also called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Common symptoms associated with this condition include eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes, double vision, eye irritation and neck and shoulder pain.
It might seem like all is lost and that we should all just accept our fate and suffer in silence, but there are some simple precautions that can help prevent damage to your pretty peepers.
First of all, you need to get your eyes checked regularly. Poor eyesight helps exacerbate the strain. You should also be following the 20-20-20 rule. For every twenty minutes spent looking at the screen, a person should look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This helps relax the eye muscles.
Make sure that your computer screen is optimal for you. Ideally it should be 15 to 20 degrees below eye-level which is about 4 or 5 inches, as measured from the center of the screen and 22 to 28 inches from the eye. This isn’t just good for your vision, as it also benefits your neck, since you won’t be craning down or up all day long.
Less glare! And we don’t mean the scary kind. If you are still using an older monitor, invest in an anti-glare screen or protective eyeglasses. Most modern flat screens produce less glare than curved ones, so it might be time for an upgrade. Make sure that it is set up properly too, turn up the brightness and contrast. The screen should be bright enough to read the text without difficulty. Make sure that the fonts are big enough, too.
Your eyes can also help themselves. Frequent blinking can help prevent dry eyes by encouraging tear production. Try to blink 10 to 20 times per minute. If you feel that you still need more moisture try using preservative-free artificial teardrops, and these especially help during the hot, dry, summer months or if you tend to spend a lot of time outdoors during the daytime. Finally, make sure that the air quality in your home is not causing harm to your eyes. Use an air purifier and humidifier to make sure that there aren’t any pollutants and that moisture levels are healthy for you and your family. Alternatively, you could place water-filled containers in each room to keep the air from getting too dry.
You only get one pair of eyes, so make sure you take care of them!
You can email dr.mabel@outlook.com directly if you have any questions. Photo by Aliyah Jamous on Unsplash.
