Asheville is a large, metropolitan city with many amenities usually found in much larger urban areas. We have an indoor and outdoor mall, restaurants that make their way onto television, and incredible music venues. Nevertheless, we have the kind of tight-knit community one would expect from a much smaller town. When regional and national crisis occur, Asheville residents will look out for one another. We will make sure each person has what they need.
Whether you are reading this while you are working from home, having been displaced by social distancing related to the COVID-19 pandemic, or you simply spend a great deal of time staring at computer, phone, and tablet screens, it is vital to make sure you are taking care of your eyes. 90% of American adults spend as much as 10 hours each day staring at a digital screen. This amount of screen time can cause strain that makes your work or online education much more stressful. Digital eye strain leads to issues including:
- Eye fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Headaches
- Problems focusing
- Dry eyes and irritation
What to do to Prevent Digital Eye Strain
Even if you find yourself in a situation where you must look at a computer screen for more than two hours each day, there are steps you can take to reduce the impact on your eyes. Some of the steps include:
- Positioning your computer screen centered in front of you, about an arms-length away, and just below your sightline.
- Sitting up straight in your chair. Choose a high-quality, comfortable chair that will help facilitate good posture.
- Take frequent breaks. In addition to standing up at least once every hour, make sure that you are looking away from your screen every 20-minutes, for at least 20-seconds.
- Make the text size as large as possible, rather than trying to cram everything on a single screen.
- Make sure your lighting is conducive to good eye practices. This means you should avoid working in the dark, or in an area with a lot of overhead light. Make your computer screen dimmer, but not so dim you are squinting.
- Make sure you are blinking frequently.
If you are experiencing eye strain and its associated symptoms, make sure you schedule a visit with your optometrist, especially if it is not improving after taking these steps. If you would like to schedule an eye exam with a trusted Asheville optometrist, contact Asheville Vision Associates today.