Digital Eye Strain


In this modern world, it has become more common than ever for the majority of tech 
users to be completely consumed by their own consumption of media and information. 
Some people stay so focused on their devices that they even walk into objects on 
sidewalks. 

Many accidents that are due to distraction have also become an unexpected 
consequence of this new technology, but one of the subtlest issues with these changes 
comes in the form of digit eye strain.  

The following information will provide you with a good overview of digital eye strain, 
from what causes it, to what you can do about it.


1. What is Digital Eye Strain?

Have you ever been watching something for a long time, or on your phone for extended 
periods and began to feel a sort of headache and neck pain? If you have, then it’s very 
possible that you have at some point experienced digital eyes strain. Many groups that 
study the health and effectiveness of the human eye define this type of eye strain as a 
type of pain that occurs after the person suffering has been using a digital device for an 
average of 2 to 3 hours. 

The number of sources and factors that determine the severity and rehabilitation 
required for this type of eye strain are difficult to count when you consider the type and 
numerically astronomical presence of devices that are currently available on the market 
for purchase. 

This includes all sorts of gaming consoles, televisions, tablets, smart phones, smart 
watches, and computers of both the stationary and mobile variety, with an impressively 
imposing list growing every year at an exponential rate. These devices are marketed 
with suggestions that makes them irresistible to young and old alike, and they’re quickly 
becoming the primary forms of entertainment and information portals for people in the 
new millennium. 







2. Who is at Risk

The interesting thing about digital eye strain, is that anyone can be susceptible to its 
harmful effects. It should be noted however that adults who work in a field that requires 
long spans of time peering into the screen like computer programmers, writers and 
graphic designers are likely to be the most susceptible because of their length of hours 
in use coupled with whatever other screen related activities that are a part of their daily 
routine. 

This can be especially true of people who are more isolated on a weekly basis. People 
who have this type of lifestyle are more likely to spend long hours watching 
entertainment or working in their daily lives. If they don’t have good habits to prevent 
eye strain, then it won’t be long before they begin to experience the effects. Prolonged 
damage can lead to the need for corrective eyewear. 

Those who wear glasses can also be affected. Most glasses are made of simple glass 
or plastics and aren’t generally designed with the proper materials that are able to help 
you to avoid eye strain. Some lens types can even increase the amount of damage that 
they can do to your eyes due to refraction.  If the glasses that you’re wearing haven’t 
been built with electronic screen use in mind, then they are likely to be major factor in 
the production of eye strain. 

Some of the most vulnerable to these effects are younger children. Many parents today 
find it easier to place their child in front of an electronic device than to interact with them 
directly. This set it and forget it style of parenting can eventually lead to stress in the 
child, who may experience forms of this painful discomfort. It’s been recommended that 
parents keep a close watch on the amount of time that their children spend on these 
devices and limit their use to short bursts of 30 minutes or less. 

While games and other activities have a lot of benefits for children who are developing, 
there are a multitude of effects that still haven’t been studied, and it would be best to 
keep use at a minimum. It’s been documented that prolonged use can have on the brain 
and sleep patterns, which can be a very bad thing for young children who are still 
growing and learning.  






3. Causes of Eye Strain
                 
It’s important to note that no single factor is the cause of digital eye strain. This 
condition arises out of a set of lifestyle choices that lead to the damage, and it can 
require a careful examination of a person’s habits to find out how the damage can be 
lessened. Not only that, but it can begin in very small ways and manifest into full blown 
bad habits in a short period of time. This can begin by some as innocent as trying to 
read words on screens that are too small for the user to see. 

As they make this habit a way of life, the user gets used to straining their vision to see 
the tiny letters so often that their eyes begin to show the earlier and less serious 
symptoms of eye strain. They will mostly only notice this when they emerge from a low 
lit environment to run errands and perform other life tasks.

Low lit areas are another cause of this condition, as it causes the eyes to have to 
struggle to let in more light. The constant struggle to see can tire the muscle groups in 
control of letting light into your eyes and thus result in fatigue and headaches. 

Another important issue that isn’t considered, is that these small screens produce a type 
of blue light that can be very disruptive to your sleep patterns and eye health in general. 
Experts have warned that this type of light can speed up the degenerative progression 
of different eye problems like glaucoma and cataracts. 


4. Symptoms of Eye Strain

One of the few good things about eye strain is that it is marked by a large number of 
symptoms that can alert you to the news that your eyes are getting tried as a result of 
continual use. Generally speaking, a person with eye strain will be likely to have sore or 
even bloodshot eyes from microscopic damage to the surface of the eye and its blood 
vessels. 

As time goes on, it becomes more difficult to focus on objects in your field of vision. 
When you do get close to objects, you might be able to see what you’re looking at but 
without any defined lines due to blurry vision. Further down the road, you might begin to 
develop serious headaches that keep you from having a productive day.  

Your eyes will become sore, and your headaches might become more persistent. 
Sometimes these pains can even manifest in the habits of tensing or clenching other 
muscles near your head like those in your shoulders and neck. This is a common 
problem with people who have eye pain because the eye pain usually makes it difficult 
for them to detect that they are tensing those muscles, and this can lead to other 
injuries. 
 
Your neck, shoulders and upper back areas are also vulnerable to the effects of eye 
strain. When most people have to struggle to focus on things, or they experience pain 
and discomfort, it’s a natural thing to begin tensing muscles in any of the areas where 
people tend to carry stress. When your posture is being changed for the worse and you 
are in this type of pain, it could cause you to experience sleep deprivation. 

Sleep deprivation can lead to a host of new injuries. During sleep, it is essential to get 
complete rest, because sleep is the designated time for your body to replenish mineral 
stores, convert vitamins into your body’s basic raw materials, and perform repairs. Your 
eyes engage in nearly constant movement during the time that you are awake. When 
you are tired and your eyes begin to feel strange, this is because your body is ready to 
rest them. 


5. What You Can Do About it

The good news is that digital eye strain can not only be prevented, but treated. This is 
not usually a chronic condition, so with just a few tweaks in your office and some 
lifestyle changes while you work or browse the web, you will be feeling much better.

Find Out If Your Lights Are Bright Enough 

How bright are the lights that you use at home and at work? The brightness of the lights 
around you can affect how quickly your eyes become tired. If your environment isn’t 
bright enough, then your eyes will have to strain constantly to gain the required amount 
of light that you need to see things in a clear way. This constant straining can lead to 
injury, and it usually begins with some soreness and eye fatigue. 

Hydrate 

The irritation that is brought on by eye strain can be reduced by a number of means, but 
it’s best to attack the problem at the root rather than only take care of the problem at the 
topical level. The easiest fix that you can find will probably be eye drops, because those 
can be bought at almost any store and are available in an almost unlimited supply. The 
more root way to combat the problem though, would be for you to make sure that your 
body is properly hydrated. When you are more hydrated, it’s much easier for your body 
to produce the important fluids that coat and protect the surface of your eyes. 

Limit Use of Air Flow Machines

Another thing you can do is take a look around your home. If you are a person who 
uses air flow machines like fans and air conditioning, then you could be causing eye 
irritation that is exhausting your eyes. If your machines don’t use filters, you could even 
be pushing dust and impurities around in the air. When you combine the flow of dry and 
dusty air and long hours with your eyes locked onto screens, the result will be 
discomfort for sure. 

Take Time to Rest 

How often do you rest your eyes during work projects and other activities. People often 
forget that they are doing damage to their bodies even if they are having a fun time 
while doing so. It’s a necessary thing to take breaks when you’re looking at an 
illuminated screen for long periods of time. Not only that, but it should also be notes that 
older screens like LCD screen take a heavier toll on your eyes, so updating to a newer 
model that is LED can reduce some of the fatigue that you experience. 

Get Some Special Computer Glasses 

Sue to the high demand for continuous gameplay during online sessions of high end PC 
based games, some very smart people have come up with glasses that block a large 
portion of the radiation that comes from screens. These special types of glasses block 
out the blue light, and can be found online in gaming supply stores and other computer 
related accessories. 

Prices will vary for this type of merchandise because there are brands that capitalize on 
providing high end options for the distinguished gaming experience, but it is very likely 
that you will be able to pick up a pair for less than the average cost of a movie ticket. 

Light with Warmer Colors 

You wouldn’t think that the color of your lights would be a huge issue, but it turns out 
that science has discovered that it’s easier for the human eye to deal with warmer 
colors like reds and orange than it is to deal with colors such as blue. When you eyes 
are in a struggle to adjust to the blue light, your eyes becomes fatigued. When you miss 
this issue with any of the other issues mentioned above, it becomes a lot easier to see 
how and why many people experience eyes strain today. 

Spend Time Doing Eye Exercises 

Like many muscles in the human body, the muscles located around the eye need 
variety in order to stay functional. It’s beneficial to take the time to roll your eyes and 
spend time focusing on different objects of varied distance. This makes sure that your 
eyes are used to seeing things at different depths. As people get older, the less tasks 
that they engage make it possible for those muscles to lose their effectiveness. Eye 
exercises can help prevent the loss of that mobility and muscle efficiency.   

Get More Sleep

Of all of the things in this article, one of primary details of utmost importance is that you 
get a good night’s rest. Sleep is extremely important for the regeneration and 
replacement of cells in your eyes. 
