Virtual classes have been enforced in a variety of school districts, while students and teachers alike have to fixate their attention towards a screen that has the utter potential to ruin our sight. Learn more about the causes and images of eye strain, and how to prevent them during the overwhelming school year!
Technological employment grew with incredible frequency, prominent across various age groups, in preparation for professional, educational, and/or social purposes. Digital Eye Strain (DES) is substantially common for device users, especially in the 21st century, because of it, stressing their binocular vision. Visual fatigue will inevitably spike as everything physical transfers on a virtual platform, affecting thousands. According to the Mayo Clinic, however, this usually isn't serious as there are means to reduce its discomforting symptoms, such as resting your eyes for a few hours. In a few cases, they note, an eye strain may suggest an eye condition that requires treatment.
How bad our vision alters, or how each person experiences their symptoms, is dependent to the extent to the initial level of our visual capabilities and the amount of time we spend looking at our screens. Symptoms usually arise with these following factors:
Poor/Low lighting when looking at a bright screen
Improper viewing distances (i.e. standing way too close to the television)
Uncorrected vision issues
Not blinking (dry eyes)
A combination of these and/or other factors
Extended utility of any digital device will amplify, especially along with these factors (whether the person adopts one or a few of them), the worst of these symptoms which include, but are not limited to:
Increased sensitivity to light
Blurred (double) vision
Headache
Difficulty concentrating
Sore neck, shoulders, and back
Dry eyes
Highlighting virtual distance learning and work, there are some means to avoid eye strain in general (including some tips!):
TAKE A BREAK AND EXERCISE YOUR EYES
Give your eyes a break - usually, people use the "20-20-Rule" that involves you taking a break
20 minutes from looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This relaxes your vision,
similar to looking at something green.
Another exercise you can do is look at an object far away for 10 to 15 seconds and then gaze at
something up close for 10 to 15 seconds. Then, look back at the distant object again. Repeat this
exercise ten times.
Or you can actually follow this instructive video to reduce the redness of your strained eyes:
Avoid Dye Eyes - you can keep your eyes moisturized by blinking while looking at the screen and/or use eye drops.
Minimize glare - readjust the lighting of your screen by putting it into "Night Mode". If your device does not have that setting, you can simply reduce the luminosity of your screen
Limit your screen time - this is incredibly challenging for people whose schoolwork and professional work interferes with limiting screen time, but a tip (which is easier said than done) involves you to prioritize which schoolwork needs to be completed first before the next. OR, if you have not yet done anything, you could complete your work as early as possible.
Readjust the text and font size - this makes the work easier to read.