Visual fatigue, a modern illness

Technology is part of everyday life and so are screens. All this time spent in front of a computer or a smart phone is not ideal for our eyes since it can lead to visual fatigue. The main symptoms are headaches, stinging eyes, blurred vision, and neck stiffness. Fatigue may occur much sooner if you have uncorrected visual impairments such as astigmatism or farsightedness.

Here are a few tips on preventing eye fatigue:

• Find a position that is comfortable for your eyes. At rest, your eyes naturally look out and downward. To accommodate this, position your computer monitor so the center of your screen is a little below eye level, around 50 to 70 centimeters from your face.
• Take a 5 minutes break every hour and blink often. Blinking keeps your eyes moist and prevents them from drying out.
• Adjust the lighting. Make sure the room is well lit and position your screen to avoid glare from the light sources.

Of course, the first step in avoiding eye fatigue is correcting your vision with glasses or contact lenses. Specialized products are available, such as antiglare filters that block the blue-violet light emitted by screens or computer glasses that correct presbyopia to improve intermediate vision and promote good posture. If you prefer contact lenses, opt for Harmony Optimize lenses that help relieve the dryness associated with digital eye fatigue. Their technology attracts and retains water all over the lens to help keep moisture in even if you blink less than usual.

Remember that your eyes work hard so you can see, so make sure you let them rest regularly and take any steps that are necessary to keep them healthy. For more information or to try Harmony Optimize, talk to your Opto-Réseau professional.