TVs, Cell Phones, I-Pads, Oh My!
Electronic devices are a part of our daily lives. We have gotten used to having and enjoying them every day. In fact, the average American spends about 9-11 hours every day in front of cell phones, televisions, computers, and pads. A study released by Deloitte found that Americans collectively check their smart phones more than 8 billion times per day. People play games on their I-Pads on the couch while watching TV. They check their phones while shopping, dining in a restaurant, and even while driving. Electronics Are Hurting Your Eyes
Knowing that no one is going to give up their electronic devices for reasons ranging for necessity to relaxation, we have put together some tips for minimizing the Electronic Eye Strain.
Blink – Sometimes the simplest things can be one of the most important. As you stare at the Candy Crunch game or scroll through your Facebook Page, remember to blink. Blinking often keeps your eyes moist and reduces dryness and irritation. Plus, it even helps your eyes to refocus.
Take A Break – We are not asking you to give up your electronic devices, only to schedule in breaks. The break will relax your eye muscles and will reduce the chances of getting eye strain. Consider separating from your electronic devices by talking a walk to ensure that you actually take a real break from them. Employ the 20-20-20 rule which states that every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look about 20 feet away. It relaxes the focusing muscle inside the eye, relaxes the muscles outside the eyes that converge the eyes and stimulates blinking to remoisten the surface of the eyes.
Screen Brightness – If your screens are too bright or too dark, they can impact the strain on your eyes. Adjust the brightness to the light level in the environment around you, unless you are in the dark. Try not to spend too much time with your phone or devices while trying to go to sleep, not only does it cause eye strain, but it affects your sleep.
Clean Screen – Add cleaning the electronic screens to your Spring Cleaning list. A dirty screen is hard to see and can cause eye strain from squinting through the dirt and dust.
Step Away – Try to keep your electronic devices 16 to 18 inches away from your eyes. Most people look at their cell phones and pads at about 8 inches away from their eyes. This can cause an increase in eye strain. Just take a step back from the electronics.
Font Size – The font size on Cell phones, pads, and computers can all be adjusted. Not only will this reduce eye strain but it may help out people who wear readers….you may not even need them if you increase the font.
These are 6 great tips for reducing eye strain from your devices. Electronics are hurting your eyes, but you can limit the eye strain but using some of these tips.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
