What is eye fatigue and easy ways to relieve it
Screen time was one thing we were most concerned about. But now here we are. The pandemic has led to increased screen time not just for us working people but the kids too. From office work to birthday celebrations, everything has shifted to online space, which is taking a toll on our eye health.
What is eye fatigue?
Focusing intensely on screen for long, driving for too long, long periods of detailed works like writing and reading can lead to eye fatigue. Intense focus means you are not blinking often.
Digital screens can reduce your blinking and leave your pupils dry and irritated. This indicates that your eyes need some rest when you are focusing for too long on anything.
Symptoms of eye fatigue
It’s not easy to recognise and tell when your eyes are fatigued as the symptoms in some cases can disguise themselves as other things. Some people might experience a headache, pain and stiffness in the neck or might have trouble concentrating. Your eyes might get watery, vision might get blurry, eyes might burn or itch or you might feel extra sensitive to light. All these symptoms might indicate that your eyes need some shut time.
​How to prevent eye fatigue
– Increase the font size on your laptop and phones. The glare and reflection from the screen can put more strain on the eyes. Increasing the font might help.
– Keeping the screen two feet away will make sure your eye gaze is slightly downwards.
– Decrease the brightness of the screen and do not forget to blink in between. You can even put an alarm on the phone or a note on your screen side to remind yourself to blink often.
– Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This will give your eyes the much-required break.
​Ways to relieve eye fatigue
– Stop looking at any screen until you start feeling better.
– Get your eye check-up done once a year.
– Eye fatigue can worsen due to underlying eye problems like myopia.
