Help with extended screen time during lockdown

During lockdown we are finding ourselves depending more and more on technology to work, shop and communicate every day. We often get asked the question “will blue light glasses help?” In short if you are having issues please speak to your optician first. We can provide lenses which can help reduce strain and glare but they are not always beneficial. If you have no prescription there may be no benefit at all! We would always recommend speaking to your optician before purchasing any products which claim to help with blue light but we also have some handy hints to follow.

The best advice is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes spent using a screen, you should try to look away at something that is 20 metres away for a total of 20 seconds. Don’t worry about exactly measuring 20 metres, you should just try to focus on something far away from you. Looking out of a window at an object that seems far away will help to relax the eyes. Your eyes take around 20 seconds to completely relax so don’t rush.
Ensuring you keep hydrated is really important for your eyes, so grab a glass of water during your break.

It is helpful to know that looking at digital devices won’t necessarily damage your eyesight, but it can cause strain and unpleasant symptoms in the short term. When staring at screens the number of times we blink (normally 15 times per minute on average) can decreases up to a half that number. If you or your child experience any of the following symptoms and have not had your eyes tested recently maybe a check-up is in order;

• dry eyes
• watery eyes
• blurred or double vision
• headaches
• sensitivity to light
• trouble concentrating

So what can we do to help ourselves?

First of all look at how you are using your technology, is your desktop screen at least arm’s length away? Does your device allow you to dim your screen or use a blue light filter (especially at night)? Also ensure the lighting in the room is equal to avoid excessive contrast. Don’t watch TV in the dark, and equally don’t have a really bright light on whilst watching TV. Both can cause eyestrain. Ensuring your screen is clean can also help reduce your eye strain.

Follow the 20-20-20 rule, set a timer if you need to and blink regularly to avoid your eyes drying out.

Have your eyes looked at regularly. For children this is free as the NHS fund the test. Adults remember we provide our Platinum eyecare plan to ensure you have peace of mind that your eyes are getting the very best care. Please contact the team for more information.
Having regular eye checks can be more than just checking your vision. We are able to provide advanced eye examinations looking in detail at the full eye health which can help to find other underlying health problems as well.

The team at Molsom & Associates are always happy to help and advise so please contact us if you have any problems or questions.