It is a widespread problem in today’s world, particularly due to the increased use of digital screens. Sedentary activities such as working at a computer for hours on end, looking at smartphones or watching TV can cause a lot of strain on our eyes. One of the main causes of eye strain is the so-called “blue light” emitted by most digital screens. This short-wave light can damage the retina and lead to dry eyes, fatigue and even long-term vision problems. In addition to this, constant fixation on a screen causes the eye muscles to become overworked and impairs the ability to adjust to different distances.
Tips to relax your eyes
Symptoms of eye strain can include fatigue, burning eyes, blurred vision, headaches and neck pain. When these symptoms occur, it is important to give your eyes a break and relieve them. There are various measures that can help to reduce eye strain. Regular breaks during screen work are very important. During these breaks, the eyes should be relaxed and distracted from nearby objects. The so-called “20-20-20” principle can help here. This involves looking at an object about 20 feet (approx. 6 meters) away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This helps the eyes to relax and readjust. Another way to prevent eye strain is to use screen filters or glasses that reduce blue light. These filters reduce the amount of harmful light that reaches the eyes. Sufficient lighting should also be provided at the workplace to prevent additional eye strain. Regular eye exercises can also help to strengthen the eye muscles and relieve the strain on the eyes. These include, for example, blinking, rolling the eyes and focusing near and far.