7 Helpful Tips for Preventing Eye Strain

We’re better informed than ever about how our bodies work, and we know a lot about what we put our bodies through day to day. But our eyes are perhaps the worst off, primarily because of mobile phones, and because these devices have become something most of us cannot do without.

Flurry analytics is a firm that deals with the question of mobile phone usage. Their recent research states that the average American spends 5 hours each day using a mobile phone. This is concerning because it showed a 20% increase compared to 2015. When you do the math, it turns out that we spend 1800 hours a year on our mobile phones. We can all agree that this much exposure hurts our eyes.

Research clearly shows that our devices cause dry eyes and degeneration which can lead to blindness in extreme cases and over longer periods of time. However, you should not be afraid right away because there is something you can do to prevent this from happening.

Avoid Blue Light

Our devices emit a blue light which is actually what irritates the eye and leads to damage. However odd it may seem, those blue lights affect our sleep quality. They also cause a strain on your eyes and damage the retina. Luckily, newer phone features allow you to adjust the color and brightness levels. In

addition to this, many apps let you change the color balance if that’s what you prefer.

Use Bigger Fonts

Even though bigger fonts are not something you like, they can reduce the strain on your eyes. This solution is also among the easiest considering that every phone has this setting.

Adjust Brightness Level

Another option that you can keep an eye on is the brightness level. By adjusting it, you are looking out for your eyes.  As in any other aspect of life, it is best to find the middle ground. It’s not only high brightness levels that hurt your eyes; low brightness does it too, despite making your battery last longer.
Also note that the brighter the display is on your smartphone during the night, the worse your eyes will feel, and your sleep will suffer too.

Rest your eyes occasionally

The most logical step is to put your phone down and give your eyes some time to recover.  The recommended recovery time is every 20 minutes for a minute or two, whether you’re using your phone or computer.

Use Specialized Glasses

There is a special type of glasses called blue-light glasses that lessen the damaging effect of blue light. They are meant for anyone who overuses their phone or people whose job involves long hours in front of a computer. Some glasses may cost over 100$, but you can get them on Amazon for as little as 20$. 

Just Blink

Glasses can be expensive, and nature came up with blinking to prevent dry eyes, so don’t forget to blink!

Move Farther Away

Another free and easy way of reducing strain is to move the screen farther away. Like any other light source, it hurts your eyes after a while. So, make a habit of changing the distance at which you hold your phone.

1. https://flurrymobile.tumblr.com/post/157921590345/us-consumers-time-spent-on-mobile-crosses-5