Screens make you blink less
Concentrating on a screen cuts your blink rate to under half its normal level. The tear film dries, producing grittiness and stinging, which is a large part of what people call eye strain. Blinking deliberately helps, as does placing the screen slightly below eye level so the eyelids open less.
What 20-20-20 actually does
Every 20 minutes, look at something about six metres away for 20 seconds. Sustained close focus keeps the focusing muscle contracted; looking far releases it. It is hard to remember without a timer, so setting a reminder is worth it.
- Set a reminder every 20 minutes
- Look out of a window or down a corridor
- Hold the distant focus for 20 seconds
- Standing up adds a stretch to it
Match brightness and contrast
A bright screen in a dark room keeps your eyes adapting, which tires them. Matching screen brightness to the room is the basic fix. If small text makes you squint, increasing text size helps both your posture and your eyes. Text with too little contrast against the background also tires them faster.
About blue light
Evidence that blue-light filtering reduces eye strain is weaker than commonly claimed. What is reasonably clear is that bright screens at night push your sleep rhythm later. Night mode is better understood as a sleep measure than an eye-health one.
When to see an optometrist
Pain lasting days despite rest, part of your vision being blocked, sudden changes in sharpness, or worsening glare may not be a usage problem. Eyes are a poor organ to wait out, so have these looked at promptly.
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