Tips for reducing digital eye strain

Because I’m a full-time virtual assistant and a part-time blogger, I spend at least 8 hours a day behind a computer screen. Combine that with just plain “old eyes” and you’ve got a recipe for Digital Eye Strain – also known as Computer Vision Syndrome. By the end of the day, my brain is fried, my eyes are bloodshot, and I find myself struggling just to read the guide on the TV. Eyestrain is a very real thing that affects me every day. 

And I’m not alone. 43% of Americans fall victim to this energy-sapping condition. Do you suffer from Digital Eye Strain? Here are a few of the symptoms.

• Eye fatigue / tired eyes
• Headaches
• Dry eyes / itchy eyes / irritated eyes
• Blurry vision / double vision

While it’s not permanent, Computer Vision Syndrome is very uncomfortable, and I’d rather live without it. Over the years I’ve learned a few ways to reduce the discomfort.

1. Good lighting. If you want to reduce digital eye strain, you have to have good lighting. The worse your lighting, the harder your eyes have to work. You don’t want lights that are so bright you squint, but a well-lit room is key. Keep in mind that the lighting in a room can change with the weather, so it’s helpful to have a few lamps as well as overhead lighting for darker days.
2. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a break from your computer lasting at least 20 seconds and look at something at least 20 feet away from you. (As long as it’s not another screen!) If you can, get up and walk around. Standing up and moving around gets blood flowing, so you’re helping your body in more ways than one.
3. Keep your eyes moist. Dry eyes are a common cause of eye strain. Many people choose to use artificial tears to alleviate some of the problem.
4. Reduce blue light. While a little bit of blue light is good, too much of it can really take a toll. Screens of any kind give off blue light, which is the main component to Computer Vision Syndrome. Blue light stresses the ciliary muscle and can eventually cause macular degeneration. Too much blue light can also zap your body of melatonin, leaving you with insomnia. The reason why experts recommend shutting down all your electronics at least an hour before bedtime is because they emit blue light, which tells your body that it’s time to be awake.
5. Reduce glare. Glare from computer screens is another big contributor to Digital Eye Strain. You can play with the settings of your display to try to counteract it, but if you’re anything like me you’ll just make it worse and not be able to get it back.

While you can get a blue light and glare reduction screen to go over your computer monitor, it doesn’t protect your eyes from the blue light and glare from other places. I’ve found that Felix Gray computer glasses are the perfect solution for my situation. I really like these glasses because they go with me. I can use them on my computer, on my phone, or when driving at night to reduce the glare from other cars’ headlights. They protect my eyes everywhere I go.

Speaking of protection, the glasses also come with a beautiful hard case for storage. You can store them in your desk drawer with confidence that they’ll be safe, even if your kids open the drawer and go fishing for your last permanent marker. What…yours don’t do that?

Truthfully, these glasses have provided me so much relief from digital eye strain that I’d wear them even if they were the ugliest things on earth. However, they come in several really cute styles. I don’t think they look bad at all!

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These glasses make an amazing gift, because what better gift can you give than the gift of health? Surprise someone you love with these gorgeous glasses this year. They’ll thank you for years to come!