What is digital eye strain, how can it be reduced

digital eye strain
Photo Credit: AntonioGuillem/ iStock

World Cup football is going on. And most of us are in the habit of watching all the football action on TV or some other digital screens till the wee hours of the morning. And then you have to get up in the morning to go to work. That also translates into less sleep. Lack of sleep affects your eyes the most.

Long hours in front of the TV and digital screens can really cause strain on your eyes. Eye specialists call this digital eye strain, and it affects a lot of people. It can lead to slight headaches, blurring of vision, itching of the eyes, and slight watery discharge in your eyes.

While watching TV or Laptop or other gadgets at night, make sure your room is well-lit. If you planning to switch off the lights in the room to get a theatre effect, it can cause strain on your eyes. In fact, you have to adjust the brightness of the TV screen or digital screen accordingly. Always keep the digital screens in eye protection mode.

Such screens should be arranged parallel to your eyes. If the screens are above or below your vision, it will be a strain on your eyes. Never keep looking at the screen unblinkingly for a long time. Tears add moisture to the eyes. It is when you blink that the moisture reaches your eyes. When you blink less, the moisture also reduces.

If you want to protect your eyes, it is important to sleep well. It is not advisable to compromise on your sleeping hours. If you have lost a few hours of sleep while watching the match, make sure you catch up on your sleep during the day. If you regularly miss sleep, there are more chances of dark circles appearing under your eyes. Lack of sleep will detrimentally affect the nerves of your eyes.

If you have the habit of wearing spectacles, use that while watching TV or on a digital screen. If consistent use of TV and digital screens is causing strain to your eyes, make sure to consult a doctor.

Pinkeye is also spreading

Though this has no relation with what’s been mentioned here, pinkeye is also spreading among people. Along with viral fever, it is also affecting their eyes. If one person in the family gets pinkeye, it can easily spread to the other members of the family. So if one of you gets affected, keep a distance from the rest of the family.

Never touch your eyes with your hands. And don’t touch anything that belongs to the contagious person. Make sure you wash your hands regularly with soap.

(Information courtesy: Dr. Indu B Narayanan, Ophthalmologist, Little Flower Hospital, Angamaly)

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