If you’re like most people, you probably spend a lot of your time with screens. According to a Shire-sponsored US-only survey of 1,001 adults with self-reported dry eye or dry eye symptoms, nearly one in three adults said they use screens at least 10 hours a day.
So how is all of this screen time affecting our eye health? For starters, it may lead to eye strain and dry eye, a condition that affects millions of adults in the US.
Dry eye disease may occur when our eyes do not produce enough tears. Staring at your screen and exposing your eyes to blue light for an extended period of time can contribute to the symptoms of dry eye.
The good news is, there are steps you can take to give your eyes a break from the screens in our lives. Here are three you can try today:
Put some space between you and your screen
The closer you are to your screen, the more at risk you are for eye strain. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends sitting about 25 inches—about an arm’s length—away from your computer screen and positioning the screen in a way that your eyes gaze slightly downward.
Don’t forget to blink
While it may sound silly, when your eyes are focused on a screen, you blink a lot less than you normally would. This decrease in blink rate can trigger dry eye symptoms. If you’re settling in for some screen time, try to remember to look away from your screen every 20 minutes.
Put your phone down and look up for a bit
It’s increasingly rare to see someone walking down the street—or eating a meal, or even having a conversation—who isn’t also staring at a screen. Set aside time—even on your calendar—to disconnect from your devices and soak up your surroundings!
To learn more about screening responsibly to show your eyes some love, chat with your doctor and visit screenresponsibly.com.
This article was produced by Thrive Global and sponsored by Shire.
