These two terms amount to the same thing. It is a condition brought on by an individual spending a great deal of time looking at a screen such as a computer screen or mobile phone. Although it is often young people who are accused of spending too much time doing this, the same issue can affect older people who are looking at screens all day for work.
Digital eye fatigue cannot therefore be described purely as self-inflicted. It is a result of the overwhelming usefulness of computers, and the real task facing all of us is to find ways of reducing the harm done by staring at screens for prolonged periods.
The main part of the problem is the fact that the eyes were not designed to stare at something two-dimensional. Eyes are lively and capable of quickly switching focus from near to far, as well as left right and up and down.
Symptoms of Digital Eye Fatigue / Computer Vision Syndrome
Common symptoms which can be easily identified enable us to modify our behaviour and reduce potential damage to the eyes. Things to watch out for include itchy, uncomfortable eyes, either dry or watery, and possibly looking red and sore.
In addition to making the individual self-conscious, this will make wearing contact lenses problematic. It can also lead to fuzzy vision, sensitivity to light, eyes feeling tired, and headaches. These in turn can contribute to difficulty concentrating and also trouble sleeping. The sufferer may become moody or even depressed, possibly due to being exposed to too much of the wrong kind of light which we’ll discuss next.
The Blue Light Issue
Blue light is a natural part of the light spectrum and is not only produced by screens. It is also present in sunlight and some types of artificial light. It’s just that when we concentrate on a screen, our eyes absorb a lot of blue light at a time. This can interfere with sleep by disrupting our circadian rhythm, the ‘body clock’ that makes us expect to sleep at certain times and be awake at others.
Most computers and smartphones have a blue light filter to reduce these effects, and it is important to check the settings on your device. Anti-blue light glasses are available but have not been proven to be effective.
How to Prevent Computer Vision Syndrome / Digital Eye Fatigue/p>
It is important to give your eyes a general workout by looking at other things around the room and in the distance. In many ways this is like avoiding sitting in one position for too long; we feel better for standing up and walking around, ‘stretching our legs’. The eyes need the same kind of relief.
Building this into our routine is something that has to be worked on, and a useful idea is the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. Some people even set a timer to remind them at 20-minute intervals.
Blinking is another simple action that can be beneficial – anything to interrupt the continued focus on the screen.
Don’t get too Close
As a general rule it is best to keep as far away as possible from the screen while still being able to read comfortably. Increasing the font size can help with this. To learn more, visit Microprism Vision.
Simple awareness of what is happening can help everyone avoid computer vision syndrome / digital eye fatigue. Screens are such a big part of our lives now that we must find ways of working with them.