Screen time becoming painful Optive article

Screen time becoming painful?

Have you noticed the dry, gritty feeling in your eyes after time spent looking at a computer screen? It may feel like you have something in your eye, or your eyes may burn and sting? All of these are symptoms of Dry Eye, a common complaint with digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome.1,2 Digital eye strain is not limited to only computer screens: it includes smartphone devices.3

 

Mobile devices have become essential in modern life, shaping how we communicate as well as how we interact socially. 2,3 It’s estimated that almost 75% of adults spend five or more hours a day on digital devices. And with social media, almost 90% of us use two or more devices at the same time! 2

 

People peering for hours into a screen tend to blink less often 1,4

Working on a computer can reduce your blink rate by half within minutes of use. 1 As you blink, your eyelid spreads the tear film evenly over the surface of your eye. When you don’t blink often, your tears evaporate faster, which dries out the eye and can cause blurred vision or pain. 1,4,5

 

Dry Eye is more common if you use a computer for more than 2 hours in a working day. 6

Your symptoms may become worse as the day passes.6 The good news is that Dry Eye is not permanent, with most people noting that they don’t experience symptoms when they’re away from the office. 5

Using lubricating eye drops, such as artificial tears, can help ease symptoms during sustained computer use. 2,7

If you know that you are going to be spending time at your computer, try using eye drops before you start working, and then continue using them throughout your activity. 7

 

Tips to reduce eye strain 8: 

  • Blink often to refresh your eyes. Try to make it a habit to blink more often when looking at a monitor.

  • Take eye breaks. Try the 20-6-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 6 meters away for at least 20 seconds.

  • Consider turning off some or all of the overhead lights as bright lighting and too much glare can strain your eyes and make it difficult to see objects on your monitor.

  • If you need light for writing or reading, use an adjustable desk lamp. Close blinds or shades, and avoid placing your monitor directly in front of a window or white wall.

  • Place an anti-glare cover over the screen.

  • Adjust your monitor by positioning it directly in front of you, about an arm’s length away, so that the top of the screen is at or just below eye level. It helps to have a chair that is height adjustable.

  • Adjust your screen settings to enlarge the type for easier reading. And adjust the contrast and brightness to a level that’s comfortable for you. 

Ask your eye care practitioner for advice and more information
 
References:

  1. Jaiswal S, Asper L, Long J, Lee A, Harrison K, Golebiowski B. Ocular and visual discomfort associated with smartphones, tablets and computers: what we do and do not know. Clin Exp Optom. 2019;102: 463-477

  2. Sheppard AL, Wolffsohn JS. Digital eye strain: prevalence, measurement and amelioration. BMJ Open Ophthalmology 2018;3:e000146. doi:10.1136/bmjophth-2018-000146

  3. Kim DJ, Lim CY, Gu N, Park CY. Visual Fatigue Induced by Viewing a Tablet Computer with a High-resolution Display. Korean J Ophthalmol. 2017;31(5):388-393. doi:10.3341/kjo.2016.0095

  4. Maron DF. Dried Up. Too Much Screen Time Linked to Changes in Tears. Sci Am 2014;311(3):20 [Last accessed February 2023]

  5. van Tilburg MM, Murphy PJ, Evans KS. Impact of Dry Eye Symptoms and Daily Activities in Modern Office. Optom Vis Sci. 2017;94(6):688-693 [Last accessed February 2023]

  6. Reddy SC, Ying KH, Theng LH, How OT, Lau K, Yik-Kang PK, Muhshin bin Mohamed Sikander M. A Survey of Dry Eye Symptoms in Contact Lens Wearers and Non-Contact Lens Wearers among University Students in Malaysia. J Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2016;7:22

  7. Kannarr S. Treating Dry Eye Symptoms in Contact Lens Patients. American Optometric Association. Available from https://www.aoa.org/documents/optometric-staff/articles/treating%20dry%20eye%20symptoms%20in%20contact%20lens

  8. Mayo Clinic Staff. Eye Strain. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372403 [Last accessed February 2023]

 

OPTIVE® Lubricant Eye Drops and OPTIVE® Unit Dose Lubricant Eye Drops – Class B. Contains carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/ml and glycerine 9 mg/ml. For full prescribing information refer to the Instructions for use. For adverse events, report to MEAPV@abbvie.com. AbbVie (Pty) Ltd, Reg. 2012/068113/07. Address: Building 7, Waterfall Corporate Campus, 74 Waterfall Drive, Midrand,1685, South Africa. Tel: 011 031 1600. Date of Publication of this material: May 2025. Promo. No. ZA-OPT-250023.