The average American now spends nine hours each day in front of a screen. We do love our technology! Many of us tend to blink less when staring at our computers, smartphones, TVs and tablets. This may lead to dry eyes. These tips will help keep your eyes more comfortable when you’re staring at spreadsheets, binging on Netflix or battling zombie-like monsters.
Take regular eye breaks from your screen. I suggest following the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple step may help reduce eye strain and other vision problems.
Position your device correctly. Place your monitor about two feet away from you. It’s best for your eyes (and your neck) if you are looking straight ahead or slightly down. And to reduce irritating glare, position a light source behind your screen.
Care for your air. Fans and air conditioners dry the air and may dry your eyes, too. If you need to use them, point them away from your face. Consider using a humidifier to add soothing moisture to the air.
Drink plenty of water. Keeping your body hydrated helps your eyes, as well.
These next tips take advantage of technology to soothe tech-weary eyes.
Moisturizing eye drops can be messy and inconvenient. I was intrigued to discover a new eye mist technology introduced by Similasan of Switzerland. It may forever change the way you manage your dry eyes. It’s called a Dry Eye Easy Mist. Just hold the pocket-sized mister four to six inches away from your face … close your eyes … spray and blink. There’s no dripping, no mess, and ladies, it won’t smudge your makeup.
The plant-based liposomes collect on your eyelashes. With each blink, they form a moisturizing film over your eye, keeping in moisture. I appreciate that there are no harsh chemicals or preservatives in this formula. It can be used as often as needed, even by contact lens wearers. The mist contains a natural Alpine rose extract; that’s a hearty plant that thrives in harsh, dry conditions just above the tree line in the Swiss Alps. The Alpine rose is prized for providing natural hydration as well as antioxidants.
Consider screen protectors or computer glasses. Some have anti-glare coatings. Others have a yellow filter to block some of the eye-straining blue light. These are especially good at increasing comfort when spending long hours in front of a screen.
About the author: Known as a leading alternative health expert, Bryce Wylde is a highly knowledgeable and respected natural healthcare clinician whose specialty is homeopathy, clinical nutrition, supplementation, and botanical medicine and whose focus is routed within functional medicine. Bryce holds a bachelor of science honors degree in Biology and Psychology and a Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine and Health Sciences.
Wylde began his official on-air television hosting career with CTV in early 2008 starting on the CP24 news channel with his own hour-long highly rated weekly television show, Wylde on Health. Wylde on Health has featured interviews with international experts including Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Andrew Weil, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Dr. David Suzuki, and Dr. Deepak Chopra to name a few. Wylde has all of his guests – local and international – weigh in on and share their views and opinions on alternative, complementary, and integrative approaches to health and wellness while also fielding live calls from viewers.