Posted by: Mann Eye in Ask The Experts
With COVID-19 persisting into the latter part of 2021, more folks are working from home than ever before. Unfortunately, working remotely can involve a significant amount of screen time, which can significantly affect eye health.
We know that excessive screen time can lead to eye strain and headaches. This is caused by the muscles in our eyes having to work harder when looking at something up close, especially for an extended time. Additionally, we blink significantly less often when focused on a screen, which can lead to dryness and irritation. By the end of an extended computer session, our eyes feel fatigued and dry.
Tips for Dealing With Digital Eye Strain
An easy way to avoid this is to take frequent breaks throughout the day and either close your eyes for a short period or focus on a far-away object which allows the eye muscles to relax. Every few minutes, make complete, forced blinks to squeeze tears and oils onto the eyes to repair dryness. Set an alarm for every hour to step away from the computer to allow the eyes to recover. This is also a good time to drink water and stay hydrated. Finally, make sure your glasses are the correct prescription. Sometimes a small amount of magnification in glasses combined with a blue light filter can make all the difference.
For chronic Dry Eye issues, we would love for you to know about the Mann Eye Institute Ocular Surface Treatment Center, right here in Austin. Our Dry Eye specialists dedicate themselves to helping patients like you See Life Better through customized treatment plans using one or more of the following: LipiFlow, ThermiEyes, Scleral Lenses and Amniotic Membrane Contact Lenses. Our dry eye specialist will perform a series of diagnostic tests to evaluate your unique ocular surface condition. This will help us determine the best treatment plan (customized specifically for you).
Don’t let Digital Dry Eye make work harder than it has to be! Schedule your Dry Eye consultation and get ready to See Life Better.