Are You Damaging Your Eyes with Too Much Screen Time?
Whether you’re working at a computer screen all day or competing on your favourite game, your eyes are working overtime! Whenever you’re reading, typing or playing video games, your eyes are constantly looking around a screen – refocusing and going back & forth. This movement and exposure to blue light can put a real strain on your eyes.
Like with any repeated movement, your eyes can also experience Repetitive Strain Injury. This strain, coupled with dry eyes from not blinking as often, can create a real problem for your eyes – known as Computer Vision Syndrome. Luckily, there are a few ways that you can reduce the likelihood of developing CVS…
20-20-20 Rule…
A tried and tested way to prevent eye strain is by using the 20-20-20 rule… Look 20 feet away, for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes! You should also take a 15-minute screen break, every two hours. By doing this, you give your eye muscles a chance to rest and recuperate, reducing the likelihood of CVS.
Having the correct set up…
Believe it or not but the quality, height and position of your screen and chair can affect your eye health! Your screen should be directly in front of you, around 20-25 inches away from your eyes and just slightly below eye level. By doing this, your eyes won’t have to work so hard and are less likely to feel strained/tired!
Adjusting your screen settings…
Another great way to reduce eye strain and dryness is to adjust your screen settings to find a level that is comfortable for your eyes. By adjusting the brightness, colour, contrast and font size, you can find a setting that doesn’t overwork your eyes – i.e. they don’t have to strain to read text or look at images, they aren’t blinded by strong brightness/contrast.
Hydrate…
One of the best ways to protect your eyes is to keep them hydrated and the best way to do that is by using a professional-strength eye drop like LOC Tears, by I-DEW! LOC Tears uses an advanced blend of naturally occurring lubricants to help restore, rebalance and hydrate your eye surface. Keeping your eyes hydrated is a great way to prevent CVS, as your eyes are less overworked!
It’s also a good idea to hydrate your eyes just before going to bed – we have an eye drop for that too! Our I-DEW Aqua Gel is our double-strength formula, specifically designed to keep your eyes hydrated overnight, so you wake up feeling extra refreshed. Unlike other drops, Aqua Gel forms a gel over the surface of the eyes, to lock in moisture.
By using our professional LOC Tears throughout the day and Aqua Gel before sleeping, you cut the risk of developing dry eyes and Computer Vision Syndrome. Hydrated eyes are happy eyes, and nothing provides hydration like I-DEW!