Digital Eye Strain Exposed
Do your eyes feel tired, uncomfortable, achy or strained after at least two hours on a digital device? A few facts on digital eye strain from the Vision Council:
- Nearly 90% of American adults use a digital device for more than 2 hours per day.
- Over 60% of American adults use a digital device for more than 5 hours per day.
- 65% of Americans report symptoms of digital eye strain including neck and back pain, eye fatigue, blurry vision, headaches and dry eyes.
- 90% of Americans do not discuss their digital device usage with their optometrist.
- 27% of Americans do not realize that computer eyewear can help protect against digital eye strain.
Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms after extended digital screen time?
- Eye strain
- Headaches
- Neck and/or back pain
- Blurry vision
- Dry eyes
Relief is here!
A conversation with the optometrist is the best way to start the process to relieving your digital eye strain. The doctor can write a prescription if necessary that will relieve the strain on your eyes while working at a particular distance.
If you are presbyopic (the age-related inability to see up close) there are some specialized progressive lenses that can provide optomized for vision at multiple distances. These take into consideration keeping your head in an ergonomically correct position. A great example is the Shamir Autograph II Office Lens- specifically designed to provide a comfortable field of view between 15′ (seeing the wall clock) and looking at the computer or phone screen. Many of our patients wear these lenses throughout their workday with much appreciation. They report rested eyes and greater energy at the end of the day.
A good option for a younger patient who is in front of the computer all day but strictly farsighted or nearsighted is a single vision computer prescription. Our patient Zac reports:
After purchasing my first pair of computer glasses, I’ve noticed a tremendous difference in my energy and clarity.
Digital Eye Strain-Lenses
In addition to specific lens styles, there are also lens options that are designed to relieve digital eye strain. These two products discussed below specifically target filtering out high energy blue light from device screens. Blue light has a very short wavelength. Therefore it produces a higher amount of energy. Studies suggest that exposure to the blue end of the light spectrum could cause short term and potentially serious long-term damage to your eyes.
BluTech i
s a subtly colored lens filter available in specific lens designed to filter out blue light.
Similarly, Crizal Prevencia anti-reflective coating combined a non-glare coating with a high-tech filter to significantly reduce the amount of blue light getting into the eye.
There are many more details to discuss with one of our opticians on which lens options might be best for you and your workspace. Stop by soon to talk to us about getting the relief your eyes need today. Look forward to less strain and more energy!
