The Age of Digital Eye Strain
We live in the era of overwhelming screen presence, and this can greatly impact our visual comfort. Many people have jobs or hobbies that keep them in front of screens for a large portion of the day. This can result in feelings of eye fatigue, headaches, blurry vision, and dry eyes.
We offer thorough evaluations of your eye health to make sure that you are not experiencing an underlying condition, such as dry eye disease, that is making your symptoms worse. From there, we can provide tailored recommendations, from specialty eyewear to environmental and habit adjustments to improve your comfort.
Visit us in Saskatoon for digital eye strain care. Book your appointment today.
Common Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain
Digital eye strain can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms during or after screen use, some of which you may not realize are connected to your vision. Symptoms include:
- Eye fatigue or tired eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Burning or itching eyes
- Double or blurry vision
- Headaches
- Neck and back pain
- Dry eyes
- Watery eyes
- Trouble concentrating
What Is Digital Eye Strain?
Digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome, refers to discomfort experienced as a result of prolonged screen use. Symptoms are noticeable after spending time in front of a digital device and often improve after a screen break.
Digital displays require intense, prolonged focus at a fixed distance, which puts stress on the muscles in your eyes, as well as the neck, shoulders, and back. Using screens causes reduced blinking, which can lead to dry eyes.
While taking a break is the most effective way to reduce strain from digital devices, it is not always possible. We can help you decide on a tailored treatment for your eye strain.
How Digital Devices Affect Kids
Children are also affected by digital eye strain. They may be using screens in school, for homework, or during leisure time. Kids should have their screen time monitored and balanced with outdoor time and extracurricular activities like sports or music that bring their attention away from screens.
While the full extent of the impact of screen time on children’s eyesight is not definitively known, some studies link a relationship between screen time and the development of myopia. Keep an eye on your child’s digital habits, encourage breaks, and take them for regular eye exams to monitor their visual development.
How to Mitigate Digital Eye Strain
There are several steps you can take to mitigate digital eye strain. Taking breaks and improving the ergonomics of your workspace can help reduce eye strain. As well, wearing an outdated prescription in your glasses or contact lenses can contribute to strain.
By booking an appointment with Stonebridge Eyecare, our optometrists can evaluate your eyes to make sure you do not have an underlying condition contributing to your discomfort, and that your eyewear is updated. From there, you can also explore options such as computer glasses or digital contact lenses designed specifically to help with digital eye strain.
To keep your eyes comfortable, remember the 20-20-20 rule:
- Every 20 minutes, take a break
- Look at something 20 feet away
- For at least 20 seconds
This is similar to getting up to stretch your legs. Your eyes get a break from focusing close up, reducing strain and resetting your visual system.
By designing your workspace to keep your posture ideal, you can help reduce some of the symptoms of digital eye strain, including neck, shoulder, and back tension.
To improve your setup, keep your display about an arm’s length away. The top of the screen should be positioned at or slightly below eye level, and keyboards should be positioned where your arms can rest in a relaxed position, with around a 90º bend in the elbow.
You can discuss digital-specific eyewear with your optometrist. We carry computer glasses, which are designed to optimize vision at an intermediate distance (the distance of a computer screen). We also offer anti-fatigue lenses, which include a special boost zone in the bottom of the lens for computer vision, and digital contact lenses, which are designed for device use.
Visit Us in Saskatoon for Digital Eye Strain Care
Digital eye strain is uncomfortable, and you don’t need to live with it. We can help determine the cause of your eye strain and treat this underlying cause to improve daily comfort.
Whether you need to adjust your workspace, care for dry eyes, or update your eyewear for digital device use, we have solutions available to you.
If screen use is part of your daily life, your eye care should support that reality, not fight against it. Book your appointment today and get back to more comfortable, focused vision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Eye Strain
Digital eye strain occurs when your eyes work harder than usual during prolonged screen use without adequate breaks. Factors like screen glare, poor room lighting, improper viewing distances, and uncorrected vision problems significantly increase this workload. Over time, focusing continuously on glowing pixels creates repetitive eye muscle fatigue.
While both cause fatigue, an outdated prescription often results in constant blurriness regardless of screen use, whereas digital eye strain typically develops after extended device exposure. However, an outdated prescription can also contribute to digital eye strain, exacerbating symptoms.
Because these symptoms heavily overlap, only a professional evaluation can pinpoint the exact cause. Book a comprehensive eye exam to make sure your prescription is up to date.
Common symptoms include dry or watery eyes, headaches, blurred vision, neck or shoulder pain, and general eye fatigue after viewing screens. Most mild symptoms improve once you step away from your devices and rest your eyes using habits like the 20-20-20 rule. However, frequent discomfort suggests it is time to have an eye care professional assess your visual health.
Blue light glasses can help reduce glare and improve visual comfort for some screen users, but they are not a standalone cure for eye fatigue. True relief usually requires a combination of healthy screen habits, proper room lighting, and managing your viewing distance. An eye care provider can help determine if specialized anti-reflective coatings or dedicated computer lenses are right for your needs.
You can lower eye fatigue by practicing the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Position your screen about an arm’s length away, slightly below eye level, and adjust room lighting to eliminate harsh reflections.
If simple workspace adjustments fail to bring relief, schedule an eye assessment to check for underlying visual strain.
Visit Our Location
We’re located in Stonebridge, on the corner of Cope Lane and Stonebridge Boulevard. Find us next to the Saskatoon Dermatology Centre and Stonebridge Dental Centre. Free parking is available.
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Contact Information
- Phone: 306-664-2638
- Fax: 306-653-5822
- Email: secadmin@yxevision.ca
After Hours Emergencies: 306-371-9911
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