7 Tips For Keeping Your Eyes Happy When You're Glued to Your Screens

Updated on Sep 13, 2018 at 5:17 PM

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POPSUGAR Photography | Mark Popovich

More and more, we live in a screen-centered world. The reality for most of us is logging major computer time at work . . . and then catching up on Instagram after hours and on weekends, making it easy for us to experience eye irritation. Here, we'll help you balance your screen obsession with a little eye TLC by highlighting key tips and tricks for maintaining optimal optical health — without a digital detox. We're digital girls living in a digital world, after all. From living by the 20/20/20 Rule to donning blue-light-blocking glasses at work, we're sharing all the ways to give your eyes the VIP treatment.

Live by the 20/20/20 Rule

It sounds complicated, but it's super easy. The 20/20/20 Rule is simply taking a screen break every 20 minutes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Wear Blue-Light-Blocking Glasses

If your eyes are feeling dry or tired, this may be related to the time you spend looking at screens that emit blue light. Though this light makes screens more energy efficient, it can have negative impacts on our health, like eye strain and sleep-cycle disruption. Investing in glasses that help filter out blue light can help ameliorate these issues.

Sleep With Your Phone in Another Room

Not only will this help with sleep in general, but the light from your screen can disrupt your REM cycle, not to mention the sounds of your notifications can awaken you, too, should you forget to put your phone on silent or do-not-disturb mode. It's also all too easy to fall prey to a little prebreakfast social-media scroll before you get out of bed when your phone is right next to your bed.

Rest Your Eyes

Whether it means taking a break from squinting at your screens, closing your eyes for a moment to meditate, or getting enough sleep — at least six and a half hours — resting your eyes will help you feel and look refreshed. You'll be less irritable and more focused at work as well.

Sit 25 Inches Away From Your Computer.

Generally, the preferred viewing distance is between 20 and 40 inches from the eye to the front surface of your computer screen. If you have trouble reading from that far away, you can increase the text size for smaller monitors.

Be Cognizant of How Much Time You're Spending in Contact Lenses

A long day seems even longer when you leave your contact lenses in until super late. Give your eyes a rest and pop on your glasses after dinner to let your irises breathe a bit.

No Screens Post-10 P.M.

Your electronics emit light that can inhibit your own production of melatonin, a hormone that helps you drift off to dreamland. A simple rule like avoiding screens for about an hour or so before you go to bed can relax you and give you a chance to catch up on that analog paper reading you've been neglecting, like that novel or your favorite magazine.

Here's to safe screening and maintaining eye health by incorporating these easy habits you can fit seamlessly into your daily life.

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