More people are choosing to continue working from home since the pandemic and spending more time in front of screens. More screen time is causing digital eye strain, a temporary condition that can cause visual fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain. Proper eye care and a few suggested adjustments to your daily routine can help with the condition. 

How to Reduce Eye Strain When Working at Home

1. Give Your Eyes a Break From the Screen

Look away from the screen for about 20 seconds every 20 minutes, focusing on something 20 feet away. This 20-20-20 rule will give your eyes some much-needed rest. Daily eye care should include occasionally closing your lids and blinking hard three times to lubricate the lenses and prevent dry eye syndrome. Reduce eye stress by stepping away from the computer every two hours to take a break and massage the muscles around your eyes.

2. Block Blue Light and Avoid Neon

Purchase a quality pair of blue-light-blocking glasses. Computer screens emit blue light that is harmful to the eyes. You can purchase special spectacles from an eye care specialist, with lenses tinted a light shade of yellow that block the "high-energy visible" or HEV light, reducing stress and preventing eye damage. Avoid working or reading under neon light or in darker spaces, which may trigger eye strain. Instead, improve ambient lighting around your computer to match the screen's intensity. 

3. Eat Well for Good Eye Health

Take time away from the computer to eat a healthy meal as part of your eye care plan. A diet filled with foods high in vitamins and nutrients will keep your eyes healthy. Eat a salad with spinach or kale packed with the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin that help reduce the incidence of eye diseases. Add yellow and orange vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes loaded with vitamin A to improve eye health. Fruits like bananas, grapes, and mangoes are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants that prevent eye ailments. Salmon or other cold-water fish containing high Omega 3s help with tear production, relieving dry eyes associated with eye strain.

If you are dealing with the effects of eye strain from long days staring at a computer screen and need professional eye care, reach out to Eye Care Optical in Montgomery, OH. Stop in for a comprehensive eye exam for you or your kids with their expert optometrist. Call (513) 731-6587 to schedule an appointment, or visit them online to learn more about their services.