6 Expert Ideas for Reducing Eyestrain When Using a Computer

Your eyes are the conduits to your brain, and they deserve the same level of care. The average person spends over 8 hours a day on a monitor, so it’s important to learn how to reduce eye strain from our computer monitors.

1. Blink! Blink! Blink!

Be sure to blink often when looking at a screen. It can be easy to forget about blinking, especially if you are focusing intently on a task and don’t want to lose your train of thought, but every 20 minutes or so, you should pause for a moment and give your eyes a break. When you blink, it clears out the gunk built up on your eye’s surface (called the tear film). Your eyes will appreciate it!

2. Upgrade Your Display

When monitors were first introduced, they were purely functional, with small text and images. Nowadays, monitors are often used as large-screen TVs, meaning they need to display complex images and videos. This can tax our eyes more than the smaller screens did earlier, so when choosing a monitor size and resolution, ensure you’re getting the right display for your needs. Also, consider upgrading to a high-resolution 4K UHD monitor if you have an older one already.

3. Take a Break

We spend a lot of time in front of screens, and it’s easy to forget that they’re hard on our eyes. If you want to reduce eye strain when using a computer, take regular breaks from the screen. For example, glance away from the screen at a distant object for 20 seconds, then look back at it. This pause will help to refresh your eyes and allow them to rest for a moment. It also prevents excessive build-up of pressure in your eyeballs.

4. Use Anti-glare Glasses

Anti-reflective coatings on your glasses or display can reduce glare and help with eye strain. If you have prescription glasses, put them in front of your computer monitor when you need to reduce eye strain from looking at them for long periods. This will reduce strain and improve your eyes’ overall health.

5. Adjust the Screen Brightness

If you have an older monitor, you may need to attempt to reduce eye strain from your computer monitor by reducing the brightness. Most modern monitors have adjustable brightness settings available (often located in the monitor’s display settings or on a display controller card), so it’s worthwhile considering this option if you’re experiencing eye strain.

6. Get Regular Eye Check-ups

Reducing eye strain from technology requires diligence and regular maintenance of your eyes. Therefore, it’s important to seek the advice of an optometrist if you notice any changes in your eyes, such as difficulty focusing on objects, redness of the eyes, or dryness. Some experts recommend daily eye exercises as well!

Reducing eye strain from technology requires diligence, patience, and some good old-fashioned common sense. However, a little effort can reap huge dividends in your eye health, improving your quality of life. Protect your eyes and rest them often…you’ll be glad you did!

Brett Sartorial
 

Brett is a business journalist with a focus on corporate strategy and leadership. With over 15 years of experience covering the corporate world, Brett has a reputation for being a knowledgeable, analytical and insightful journalist. He has a deep understanding of the business strategies and leadership principles that drive the world's most successful companies, and is able to explain them in a clear and compelling way. Throughout his career, Brett has interviewed some of the most influential business leaders and has covered major business events such as the World Economic Forum and the Davos. He is also a regular contributor to leading business publications and has won several awards for his work.