Here are our top 7 tips for taking care of your eyes while working on a computer screen.

Written by Katie Davis.

Screens have pretty much dominated everyone’s normal way of life. It almost seems impossible to get through a regular day without having your eyes glued to a phone or laptop screen. That only means that there’s a high chance of having tired eyes or even vision issues. Still, it’s important to prioritize your health and wellness at home. The good news is that you can try out a number of eye care tips at home to prevent eye strain. 

1. Use eye drops.

A small bottle of eye drops is a handy product to have beside your monitor. It’s not something that would take up a lot of space, and you can use them on the regular. You can easily buy them over the counter for those times when you want to prevent dry eyes. There are many kinds of artificial tears you could use, from eye drops for red eyes to eye drops for irritated or sore eyes. You might also want to consult with an eye care professional so as to make sure you aren’t doing anything drastic. It’s important to check the ingredients of the drops as well. Your eyes need to be protected, after all, and so you might as well get to know what exactly you’re putting in them. 

2. Change the air.

Sometimes it isn’t just the screen that’s making your eyes dry. The air in your workspace may be the actual culprit. It can have some other effects, such as dry skin and other skin-related conditions. You might think of switching to organic skincare products or getting facial treatments. In truth, it could just be as easy as adding a humidifier to your room to clear the air. You could also rearrange the furniture in your work space to make sure that the area you’re in isn’t too stuffy. 

3. Invest in eyewear.

Some regular laptop users have resorted to getting blue light protective glasses that help reduce eye strain. This is a huge help especially if you can’t avoid using your devices at night. You would be getting a good night’s sleep once you get used to wearing glasses. The glasses can also prevent any headaches that come from staring at your computer for too long. If you have to do video calls with these new glasses, though, you might want to find ways to style your eyelashes as well. After all, there’s no reason to have your eyes hide behind those frames. 

4. Reduce screen time.

Of course, the simplest way to care for your eyes would be to ultimately reduce the amount of time you spend staring at your screens. It can be difficult to do, more so if your job requires you to handle software or any programs on the computer. You need to take care to not spend hours on end in front of all those lights.  Try to take breaks in between your sprints of work, even if just for a few minutes. This will give your eyes the time to relax from all the glare. It’s also a great way to take a mental break from whatever work you’re currently doing. You could set alarms or reminders for when to take these breaks so that there’s no forgetting. 

5. Check your lighting.

Sometimes, the room your in might just be a little too bright. This causes even more eye strain to any existing ones caused by your computer or phone. If you’re used to bright lights, it’s worth getting some sun outside instead of facing artificial lights all day. You might as well get a spray tan in honor of getting in the spirit of the outdoors. 

6. Adjust your angles.

The way you’ve set up your monitor might be adding to your eye strain. You can’t sit too close to the screen—about an arm’s length from it is a good distance. The screen itself can be eye level so as to use your eyes’ natural position. It would help as well if you have an adjustable chair to change any distances to your liking. 

7. Take note of your symptoms.

If you find that you’re still having vision issues or other eye strain symptoms, it’s always best to consult a doctor. Before doing so, however, you would benefit from writing down any specific symptoms so as to be prepared for any visits to the ophthalmologist. That way, if there’s an underlying problem, you would be able to get the necessary help.

Final Thoughts.

Just because you’re at home using your computer does not mean that your overall wellness has to take a backseat. And it’s not just about the eyes—your entire health and well-being should be a priority. You deserve to take care of yourself so that you can feel better and more empowered to go about your daily routine. When you’re feeling particularly tired or strained, try and do something for yourself.