At work, at home and on the go - digital screens are everywhere, educating, informing and entertaining us. However, they come with a downside too, which comes in the form of digital eye strain. Also known as computer eye strain or computer vision syndrome (CVS), this is the result of spending extended periods of time staring at digital screens, such as laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets and TVs. One way to help minimise the effects of CVS is to have specially designed lenses in glasses to protect eyes from computer screen usage. Before we dive into that though, let’s take a look at the symptoms of CVS.
Signs of CVS
Common symptoms include:
● dry, irritated and/or tired eyes
● blurry or double vision
● difficulty focusing when looking away from the screen
● head, neck and shoulder aches
CVS is a growing problem, particularly as lockdown has seen internet usage soar, with adults in the UK on average spending a quarter of their day online, according to Ofcom.
How can you ease symptoms of CVS?
There are a few basic habits you can practice everyday to relieve your symptoms:
1. Position your digital screen at eye level
2. Make sure you are at arm’s length from your screen
3. Follow the 20-20-20 rule - take a 20 second break every 20 minutes by staring at something 20 feet away.
These rules are often easier said than done, which is where Essilor Eyezen™ glasses lenses can help.
Eyezen™: made for a digital life
These single vision glasses lenses are designed to reduce eye strain from extended use of digital screens. We recommend them for those under 40 years who are short or longsighted, as well as those with astigmatism. The great thing about these lenses is that they can also be used by anyone who doesn’t have a glasses prescription too.
So, how do they work?
Eyezen™ lenses are designed to use the entire lens surface to allow your vision to adjust to all distances, seeing as we often switch between different screens throughout the course of the day. This is a significant improvement on standard lenses, which only give clear vision through the centre of the lens, making it more difficult for your eyes to adapt to near and far distances.
We shortlisted the top 5 benefits of wearing Eyezen™ lenses to:
• Sharper vision
• Ease in reading smaller fonts
• Improved contrast
• The reduction of glare emitted from digital screens
• Protection against the premature ageing of eyes
This is definitely something to consider if you you’re looking for a way to help relax your eyes and enjoy a more comfortable, overall visual experience everyday.
What if you have a varifocal prescription and use digital devices frequently, though? You can still protect yourself from CVS with advanced glasses lenses – learn more about our Varilux Digitime lenses here.
If you’re struggling with eye strain and think excess screen time could be the cause, get in touch with The Optical Co, your independent opticians in Cobham, to start your journey to better eye health and vision with Eyezen™ lenses.
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