Most of us spend the day glued to our screens, whether it’s our computer, tablet, phone, or TV. One of the biggest consequences of our technology filled life is digital eye strain. Eye strain is the common word for asthenopia which is eye fatigue.

Our eyes will tell us they are tired in many different ways including blurry vision, double vision, pain around the eyes, and headaches. The headaches that arise from eye strain are usually tension headaches that are focused on the center of the forehead between the eyes. Headaches caused by eyestrain develop after prolonged focusing, cause pain/soreness behind your eyes, usually aren’t accompanied by nausea, and they get better with rest.

Let’s talk about preventing eye strain. Ever heard of the 20-20-20 rule? This rule is meant to remind us to take breaks from our screens. Every 20 minutes of near screen time, take 20 seconds to look at something at least 20 feet away. This exercise helps us relax our focusing system and take a break from staring at the digital screen.  A few more recommendations for preventing eye strain include reducing stress, reducing screen glare, using “blue light” mode on computer and phone screens, maintaining good posture when using screens, and adding protection to screen light in your glasses such as an Anti-reflective coating or Blue-light blocker.