The Basics - Dry Eyes at Computer Relief and Reasons
One important part of Computer Vision Syndrome causes: tender lids, fluctuating vision, light sensitivity and eye irritation. Dry eyes at computer are a so very common in today's digital heavy world.
As an Optometrist in primary care, a significant part of my day is helping folks navigate the huge visual demands of modern technology centric jobs.
When we use a computer, tablet or smart phone for an extended period, many of us experience digital eye strain. There are several reasons why this occurs including:
- digital dry eye
- posture & ergonomics
- long periods of sustained focus
- back-lit screens
- improper prescription glasses or contact lenses
- eye muscle / alignment issues
The fact that we blink significantly less when our attention is focused on a screen significantly contributes to eye irritation, blurry vision and fatigue. i.e. dry eye at computer
One of the most impactful things that you can do to stabilize vision and reduce digital eye dryness issues is use non-preserved rewetting eye drops formulated for evaporative issues (such as LAB Triactiv, I-Drop MGD and Thealoz DUO). To be effective these drops should be used at least twice a day i.e. proactively!.
This is especially true for contact lens wearers as the ocular surface dries even more quickly!
A great way to get a quick refresh throughout the day is Hypochlorous Spray. These sprays are applied to closed eyes to clean and wake-up fatigued eyes for those long hours.
Warm compresses, prescription medications and Omega 3 supplements are also used to combat dryness – digital or not! See the Dry Eye BLOG post
Other reasons for Digital Eye Strain
Posture and static focus
Extended smart phone use creates problems because working distances are so close. Sustained focus and extended convergence (in-turning of eyes) cause fatigue and strain. Proper eye wear and taking breaks are the best solutions.
Progressive lens users also have postural issues. At a desk, the ideal spot to view a desktop screen is partway down the lens… this causes users to lift their chin for extended periods resulting in neck aches and pains. There are products that allow for more comfortable postures (e.g. Essilor Digitime or Zeiss Office lens). These lenses very helpful to reduce strain and address multiple working distance issues.
For a progressive lens wearer, if a separate 'Office Style' set of glasses is not practical, setting the computer monitor as low as possible is important (i.e. with straight ahead gaze, the top of your computer screen should be at eye level)
Our eyes work like cameras. Before autofocus cameras we manually focused a camera by moving lenses closer and further apart by twisting the camera’s lens system. Moving the lenses would change the focal length and create clarity.
Our eyes work very much the same way with a flexible lens in the eye changing shape to create clarity. Our eyes are not designed to hold static close focus. They are designed to focus dynamically and continually move. Keeping the same high point of focus (e.g. smart phone) fatigues the system and it becomes sore.
If you do.. or do not wear glasses at all, there are options to relax your eyes. Essilor EyeZen, Zeiss Digital and Nikon Relaxsee are examples of antifatigue lenses. These lenses help reduce eye strain by assisting your eye’s focusing system.
Eye Movements, Prescription and Alignment
Hippus is the normal involuntary small rhythmic pulses (dilation/constriction) of the pupil. The frequency and size of hippus movements are influenced by light.
There is a school of thought that backlit screens cause more fatigue and strain because they induce more intense hippus movements. This would be why many people enjoy reading more on paper or e-readers vs. tablets/laptops/phones. There is not much research on this topic to make recommendations.
Having an outdated, inaccurate prescription seems like a logical thing to correct when having digital eye strain issues but you would be surprised how many folks do not consider this factor when experiencing eye ache and strain symptoms. Step #1 - See your Optometrist!
An incorrect prescription can also mean that the numbers are correct but they are prescribed for the wrong working distance.
Contact lens wearers with low amounts of astigmatism are susceptible to strain because low astigmatism is not generally corrected in soft contact lenses. If this sounds familiar, the solution may be to have glasses for extended screen use times. Or even antifatigue glasses for over your contacts!
Having your eyes work well together is critical for reading and screen comfort. There are six muscles behind each eye that must work in concert for comfort. Your Optometrist can assess your eye muscle coordination and make recommendations. Vision Therapy is like physiotherapy for the eye muscles and can help strengthen and align misalignment (not all Optometrists offer Vision Therapy). Alternatively, a lens with “prism” can sometimes be used to relax misalignment and help eyestrain.
A very basic test for alignment issues… stare at the asterisk below and alternate covering one eye and then the other. If the asterisk shifts at all up/down or significantly right/left you should see your optometrist.
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References: All About Vision - Computer Lenses
https://www.meyespa.com/pages/contact-us
Away from corporate influences and their churn, I believe in time and an unhurried environment. At mEYEspa and my clinic, we are UNcorporate Optometry. I have special interest in occupational vision needs, concussive injury to the visual system and dry eye management. I am the owner of mEYEspa and a dedicated to the delivery of relevant information and clinic-tested eye care products. -Doctor of Optometry - University of Waterloo 1994 -Honors Bachelor of Science – Waterloo 1994 -Registered Ontario College of Optometrists -Member of Ontario Association of Optometrists -Member of Canadian Association of Optometrists -10 year straight winner of 3 Best Rated Optometrists London ON
