Do you work on the computer all day? Do you find that when you look away from your screen and back, everything has a fuzzy edge around it? If so, you may be experiencing eye strain. Eye strain can come in many forms, from fatigue to pain to headaches, but the most typical form of eye strain is eyestrain—visual discomfort that can lead to irritation and blurred vision if left untreated.
The Most Common Cause of Eye Strain
A 2010 study found that people who spend more than four hours per day staring at a screen are 50% more likely to suffer from screen-induced eye strain (SIES). I like to call it SCREENTIME—looking at digital screens for long periods of time.
6 Tips to Avoiding Eye Strain While Reading in Bed
There are a few simple steps you can take to avoid eye strain and protect your vision while you read in bed. By following these six tips, you can rest assured that you’re reading in bed in a healthy way.
1) Make sure your eyes have adjusted to darkness before starting to read.
2) Place a lamp on either side of your book so it doesn’t create glare on pages or light up too much of your face.
3) If you wear glasses, remove them before lying down to read—your lenses could be magnifying the light from your lamp and causing extra strain on your eyes.
4) Hold books at least 12 inches away from your face when reading; if possible, hold them even further away (about 20 inches).
5) Avoid looking at any other bright screens after about 8:00 p.m., as they may make it harder for you to fall asleep or keep you awake longer than usual.
5 Ways to Avoid Computer Eye Strain at Work
Working in front of a computer screen for hours on end isn’t exactly ideal for your health. Computer eye strain can lead to headaches, blurred vision, and even insomnia. To reduce your risk of developing these issues, try implementing a few of these five tips at work :
1) get off your computer every hour and 20 minutes.
2) make sure you aren’t holding your breath while working.
3) don’t look at one spot too long, as that can put stress on your eyes.
4) focus on what you see instead of trying to see through or search out objects.
5) be sure that everything is clearly in focus.
How Can I Tell If My Child Has Eye Strain?
Red eyes or difficulty focusing are usually obvious symptoms of eye strain, but other signs include headaches, blurred vision and sensitivity to light. In most cases, screen time is a major factor in eyestrain for children. To reduce your child’s risk of straining their eyes while using digital devices, consider limiting their screentime and make sure they take regular breaks.
8 Quick Natural Home Remedies For Soothing an Irritated or Dry Eye
While there are several eye drops available over-the-counter (OTC) that can help with irritation or dryness, they do have a tendency to make things worse in some cases. So before you head to your local pharmacy, try these simple home remedies first.
1) Follow the 20-20-20 rule
With digital becoming the new normal, you usually spend eight to ten hours of the day in front of the computer, which causes eye discomfort and vision problems. Wondering how to relieve eye strain from digital exposure? Follow the 20-20-20 rule; take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to view something 20 feet away. As already mentioned in our eye strain treatment guide, tthis is one of the most simple and effective eye strain tips to follow. Follow this practice for two weeks, and you will see a tremendous rise in your productivity..
2) Sunning
Sunning is one of the most natural remedies for eye strain.The idea here is to take in a lot of sunlight and provide the necessary warmth for your eyes. Sunlight is very good for your retina and helps in releasing dopamine, which helps in the healthy development of the eyes. All you need to do is close your eyes, stand on your balcony, and allow the sunlight to warm your eyelids.
Precaution: Do not stare directly at the sun.
3) Use a screen protection
Our eyes are not designed for staring at computer screens throughout the day. Hence, you need to protect them from excessive UV light. Use a matte screen filter on your laptop and mobile phone to deflect the excess blue light exposure.
4) Eye exercises
You must be wondering if there are any exercises on how to heal eye strain at home for your own comfort. Well, there you are! To relieve eye strain, take occasional breaks from your work and rub your hands together to create warmth in your palms. Place the warm palm against your eyes for 30 seconds. Repeat this process three to five times a day within small intervals. This is also one way to get rid of heavy eyes. This increases the blood circulation in your eyes and relaxes your eye muscles, thereby relaxing your eyes and preventing eye strain.
5) Blink often to refresh your eyes
When you work on your computer or laptop, you tend to blink less than usual, contributing to dry eyes. Blinking your eyes produces tears that moisten and refresh your eyes. A good amount of moisture in your eyes prevents your eyes from swelling and thereby reduces eye strain. When you are working on computer screens for a long time, it is advisable to blink your eyes often and take some breaks in between to do that.
6) Splash cold water
Splashing your eyes with cold water is a go-to cure to relieve eye strain and fatigue. Cold water helps in improving your blood circulation and relaxing the strained muscles of your face and eyes. This is a quick and easy home remedy to reduce eye strain. You can directly wash your face with cold water or dab a cotton cloth on your eyes to relax them. Alternatively, you can also rub a cube of ice around your eyes to give them some extra moisture. Using cold water is a tried and tested eye strain home remedy and provides instant relief from eye strain and fatigue. This is one of the most common eye pain home remedies.
7) Improve your air quality
The quality of the air you inhale plays a crucial role in taking care of your eyes. Improve the air quality in your space by using a ventilator, humidifier, and adjusting the thermostat to reduce blowing air and smoke. Moreover, inhaling fresh air is crucial in easing eye strain.
8) Choose the right eyewear
If you wear contact lenses while working, you should consider investing in computer glasses, which are designed specifically to protect your eyes from the harmful UV blue rays. If you wear spectacles, you can still ask your doctor to modify your prescription or simply get a UV blue lens coating. With computer glasses, you will be able to devote seamless work time to work, thereby increasing your productivity at work. The best home remedy for blurry vision.