When Screen Time Takes a Toll on Your Eyes – Computer Vision Syndrome

After a long day on a laptop or smartphone, your eyes often feel dry, tired, and irritated. Some people also experience headaches, blurred vision, or neck tension. This is very common today and is often simply due to too much screen time.

Our eyes aren’t actually designed to stare at a small surface up close for hours on end. We also blink much less frequently when looking at a screen. This causes the eyes to dry out faster and can make them feel strained.

What you can do

· Take short breaks regularly.

· Make a conscious effort to look into the distance every so often.

· Blink more often throughout the day.

· Make sure you have good lighting at your workspace.

· Sit as upright as possible and keep an arm’s length distance from the screen.

· If you wear glasses, have them checked to see if they’re suitable for screen work.

· If your eyes are dry, moisturizing eye drops can help (preservative-free).

When you should take a closer look

If your symptoms persist despite taking breaks and improving your screen habits, you should have them checked by a doctor. This is especially true if your eyes burn regularly, your vision fluctuates, or you experience recurring headaches.

In short: Screen work is almost impossible to avoid these days — but your eyes need little breaks along the way. Even simple changes can make a big difference.

Quelle: Pucker et al., 2024., Kaur et al., 2022.