Digital Eye Strain

How Can My Optometrist Help?

The best way to approach digital eye strain, or any eye condition, is to begin by booking an appointment with your optometrist. Your optometrist can help you get to the root of the problem, and offer solutions to help manage or even eliminate digital eye strain.

For digital eye strain, your optometrist may recommend a variety of at-home treatments to help mitigate your symptoms. Some of these options could include:

• Office ergonomics. Posture and positioning can have a significant effect on the comfort of your vision. By setting your computer up at an arm’s length and tilting it back, you can reduce the impact your computer screen can have on your vision. You should also make sure that your screen brightness is set to an appropriate level. Your screen should never be brighter than your ambient lighting.
• The 20/20/20 rule. This is a common exercise recommended by optometrists to help patients remember to give their eyes a break. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at an object about 20 feet away. This can help rest your eyes so you can get back to the task at hand.
• Eye drops. Your optometrist can help recommend the right type of eye drops that could help your digital eye strain. Some of them might need to be prescribed; others are available over-the-counter.