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Digital eye strain
Anyone who sits in front of a computer screen or stares at their smartphone for several hours every day can assume that they are placing a lot of strain on their eyes as a result. The eyes become tired, burn and are painful. But instead of ignoring the discomfort, you should do something about it immediately. Find out why here.
How do screens harm our eyes?
We normally blink on average about 15 times per minute. However, by staring at a monitor or display, the eyelid blinking frequency decreases and the tear film is insufficiently distributed over the eye. In addition, the office air is usually dry, which is pure stress for the cornea. The result is an increased feeling of dryness in the eye, as the eyes are no longer sufficiently lubricated. The tear film ruptures and evaporates, and the surface of the eye loses its protection. There is even a name for this: office eye syndrome.
In addition, the surface of the eye is cleansed of foreign bodies with every blink, but this only works if the tear film is intact. If this natural protective film is lost, pathogens have an easy time and can enter the eye unhindered.
Infographic Digital eye stress
What is “digital eye strain”?
A long day at work in front of a computer, playing on a smartphone, tablet or games console after work and watching a few hours of TV in the evening to wind down. Sounds familiar? Then perhaps you are already suffering from dry eyes. The concentrated gaze at the flickering screens puts enormous strain on the eyes.
"Digital eye strain" is the term used to describe the eye problems caused by constantly looking at a screen. A study by the US organisation "The Vision Council" in October 2014 showed how widespread the phenomenon of dry eyes caused by digital media of all kinds already is among the general population. For this purpose, almost 10,000 Americans were surveyed with regard to their digital media habits. The result: Above all, the young generation, which is growing up with smartphones, is affected by the disease.
It is also very worrying that children are already to be found among the patients, because they, too, often sit in front of a computer, mobile phone or tablet for an average of three hours a day.
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What eye complaints are caused by screens?
Dry eyes are primarily caused by working in front of a computer screen. This means that the tear film ruptures as a result of infrequent blinking, leaving the surface of the eye dry. This results in the following symptoms:
- burning, itching or scratching of the eyes
- the eyes feel tired all the time
- the eyelids may be red and swollen
- tenderness of the eyes
- watery eyes
- increased sensitivity to light
- a foreign body sensation
Susceptibility to infections and inflammation of the eyes increases if dry eyes are ignored for too long and not treated with eye drops. This is not only extremely unpleasant, but can also lead to permanent damage to the eyes – in the worst case to blindness. Therefore the advice: At the first signs, such as burning, itching or watering, go to an eye specialist to investigate the causes.
What can I do about these eye complaints?
You can counteract the wetting disorder of the eyes with lubricating eye drops. The regular instillation of drops lubricates the eyes and coats them with a protective film, preventing pathogens from entering the eye and keeping the surface of the eye nice and smooth.
In addition, however, you should also change your media habits and not put any additional stress on your eyes. These tips apply to your home as well as the office:
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1. Fresh air: Open the windows regularly for a few minutes. Oxygen is good for irritated eyes. This particularly applies to winter when indoor air is additionally dried out by the heating.
2. Short break: Treat your eyes to a regular break to relax. Instead of staring at the screen, look out of the window for a few moments or close your eyes.
3. Blinking: As simple as it sounds, this is often forgotten when you work at a computer screen. So, stick a note on your screen that reminds you to blink every now and then. Blink about ten times in quick succession – and your eyes will once again be lubricated with tear fluid.
4. Keep a distance: The distance between your eyes and the monitor should be between 50 and 80 centimetres. This is less strenuous on the eyes when you’re reading texts and designing graphics.
5. The right setting: Make sure that your screen is as flicker-free as possible. The highest possible resolution with at least a 70 hertz refresh rate would be optimal.
6. A book instead of an e-book reader: Reading a book in your spare time can be truly relaxing – but not if you're staring at an e-book reader. That's why it's better to go for the classic one made of paper.
The general recommendation is: A diet rich in vital substances and enough fluids promote good eye health. Drink at least two litres of water a day to keep the mucous membranes moist and active.