Are You Experiencing Blurry Vision? These Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain Are Getting Harder to Ignore
Screens dominate the workday, the commute and the wind-down hours, and your eyes are paying the price. Around 60 million people worldwide are estimated to have computer vision syndrome, with one million new cases reported each year, according to a study published in BMC Public Health. If your eyes feel tired, dry or blurry after a long stretch on your laptop or phone, digital eye strain may be the reason.
Here is what to know about the condition, why it has become so common and what eye care experts recommend to ease the discomfort.
What is digital eye strain and why it matters now
Digital eye strain is the everyday name for computer vision syndrome, a cluster of vision and body complaints tied to extended device use. “Computer vision syndrome (CVS or digital eye strain) refers to issues you may have if you use digital devices for several hours without taking a break. Computers, tablets, e-readers and smartphones are all examples of these devices,” according to Cleveland Clinic.
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With remote work, streaming and scrolling stacking screen hours back-to-back, the condition has become a global public health concern, with fresh cases adding to the tally every year.
Common symptoms of digital eye strain
The symptoms can show up in the eyes themselves and in the rest of the body. The most common eye-related signs include blurry vision, watery eyes, red eyes, dry eyes, a foreign body sensation, light sensitivity, double vision and tired eyes.
Other complaints reach well beyond the eyes. “Extraocular symptoms include musculoskeletal symptoms which can result in inconvenience in daily routine activities. These may include body discomfort like headache, neck or shoulder pain, and back pain,” according to a 2022 review in the European Journal of Ophthalmology.
What causes computer vision syndrome
Warby Parker points to a short list of culprits. People often blink less often without realizing it while staring at a screen. Glare or poor lighting in the workspace adds stress to the eyes. Holding a device too close to the face forces the eyes to work harder than they should.
How to prevent digital eye strain at your desk
A better setup at your desk can go a long way. “Create a better work environment to help prevent digital eye strain. If you use glasses or corrective lenses, see your eye care provider at least once a year or as advised for a checkup. Also see your healthcare provider regularly. This can help prevent and treat health problems that may cause digital eye strain,” Cedars Sinai advises.
Screen position matters too. The American Optometric Association recommends keeping the screen 15 to 20 degrees below eye level, roughly 4 to 5 inches measured from the center and 20 to 28 inches from your eyes. The group also suggests positioning the screen to avoid glare from overhead lighting or windows, using blinds and swapping in lower-wattage bulbs in desk lamps.
Distance plays its own role. Sitting too close or too far forces your eyes to strain to stay focused. A useful guideline is to keep the screen about an arm’s length away and angled so you can look straight at it without tilting your head up or down, which also eases neck and back tension.
When to see a doctor
For many people the discomfort passes once they step away from the screen. According to the American Diabetes Association, symptoms are temporary for most individuals and resolve when computer work stops. Lingering problems are a different story, and a comprehensive eye exam can help diagnose the condition. The group also notes that 90% of patients do not talk with their eye care provider about computer vision syndrome symptoms.
Cleveland Clinic says providers may suggest blinking more often on purpose, since blinking encourages tears that moisten the eyes, and may also recommend over-the-counter or prescription eye drops.
What contact lens wearers should know
Contact lens users face an added challenge. “People who wear contact lenses and use digital devices for long periods of time may find dry eye to be an ongoing problem,” according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
The group suggests giving your eyes a break by switching to glasses, avoiding sleeping in contact lenses even when they are labeled extended wear and sticking to good cleaning habits. Persistent redness, blurriness, watering, light sensitivity or pain are reasons to see an ophthalmologist.
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