When Did You Last Get Your Eyes Checked?
If your eyes feel tired, dry, or strained by the end of the day, screens are likely the cause. Prolonged use of computers, phones, and tablets forces your eyes to work continuously in ways they weren't designed for — fixed focal distance, reduced blinking, artificial light, and often poor viewing angles. The cumulative effect is what's commonly called digital eye fatigue or Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).
It's widespread, increasingly common, and largely preventable.
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What Causes It
Several factors contribute to digital eye fatigue:
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Reduced blinking — people blink significantly less when looking at screens, causing eyes to dry out and lose focus
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Fixed focal distance — staring at a screen at the same distance for hours strains the eye muscles that control focus
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Screen glare and contrast — poorly adjusted brightness, glare from overhead lighting, or low contrast text increases the effort required to read
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Viewing angle — screens that are too high, too low, or too far to the side force the eyes and neck into sustained uncomfortable positions
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Uncorrected or under-corrected vision — wearing the wrong prescription, or no prescription at all, significantly worsens strain
Common Symptoms
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Tired, sore, or burning eyes
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Blurred or double vision, especially late in the day
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Headaches, particularly around the forehead and temples
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Dry or watery eyes
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Difficulty concentrating or refocusing after screen use
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Neck and shoulder tension
These symptoms are temporary and typically resolve with rest — but if they're a daily occurrence, they're worth addressing properly.
​Practical Steps to Reduce Strain
Follow the 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives the focusing muscles a brief but effective rest.
Blink consciously — when concentrating on a screen, blinking rate drops substantially. Making a deliberate effort to blink more keeps eyes lubricated.
Adjust screen settings — brightness should roughly match your surrounding environment, not exceed it. Increase text size if you find yourself leaning forward to read. Reduce blue light output in the evening using night mode settings.
Check your screen position — ideally, your screen should be about arm's length away and slightly below eye level. Avoid working with a screen directly in front of a bright window.
Reduce glare — use an anti-glare screen filter where possible, and consider anti-reflective coatings on your lenses if you wear glasses.
Get your eyes tested regularly — if you spend significant time on screens, an eye check every six months is advisable. An optometrist can also assess whether specialist lenses for screen use would help.
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​When to See an Optometrist
If symptoms persist despite making adjustments to your setup and habits, or if you experience frequent headaches or noticeably blurred vision, an eye examination is the right next step. Digital eye fatigue can be significantly reduced with the correct lens prescription and coatings — and in some cases, it reveals an underlying vision issue that hadn't been previously diagnosed.
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Visit your nearest Lens & Frames store for a comprehensive eye examination and advice on screen-use lenses.
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