Words of wisdom, for the ‘digital junkies’

All things digital rule, and most people these days are glued to a screen for several hours a day, slowly eroding away their precious eyesight. Whether at home, at the office, or even while travelling, it is almost hard to imagine life without mobile screens, computer screens and the television! For corporate professionals, both their professional and social life often involves staring intently at a screen. For these reasons, a lot of computer users today are developing ‘digital eye strain’ or ‘computer vision syndrome’ and experience symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, dry eyes and blurred vision, says Dr. Mahmood Husein, Head of the Ophthalmic Department, Saifee Hospital. “If you spend a lot of time looking at a screen and have started to experience any of these symptoms, the first thing to do is to reduce your screen time.” He further shares a few tips to take better care of your eyes:

1Place the screen at least 20 inches away from you. Ideally, the computer screen should be between 20-40 inches away. If it is too close or too distant, it may cause you to sit in an awkward position.

2Ensure that the screen is not too bright. When your screen is very bright, you are exposed to more ‘blue light’. This type of light can harm the eyes and affect vision. Instead, ensure that the room is well lit. Reduce the brightness of your screen and add a glare filter if possible. Also, reduce the colour temperature of your display in order to reduce the amount of blue light emitted by the monitor.

3Use a separate pair of computer glasses if necessary. Some people who do not need glasses for everyday use may benefit from using glasses specifically prescribed for computer use.

4Take a break and look away from your screen. Follow the 20:20:20 rule to reduce eye strain: every 20 minutes, look at an object about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This change in focus helps relax the eye muscles.

5Keep your eyes refreshed. When you stare at a screen, you tend to blink less, which tires and dries the eyes. This, coupled with the air-conditioning, may result in the eyes becoming very dry. To avoid this, take a break every couple of hours to splash some cold water on the eyes. Remember to blink more often to keep the eyes lubricated. Cooling drops also help. If you still experience any vision troubles, visit an ophthalmologist at the earliest. —IANS

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