Look away now
Sleepily checking a smartphone in the dark with one eye closed left two women struggling to see recently – a dramatic example of digital eye strain caused by staring too long at a screen. As that now affects 75% of us, try these easy ways to spare your sight – and, if you must text in the dark, open both eyes!
◆ High five the screen to check it’s an arm’s length away and adjust the height so you look down slightly.
◆ Blink ’n’ swipe. Our blink rate reduces by two-thirds when we’re online, so blink to lubricate eyes every time you click or swipe. Make sure that it’s a full blink, though – a quick flick won’t do.
◆ Change focus. ‘Our eyes aren’t meant to focus on the same point for long,’ says Susan Blakeney of the College of Optometrists, so gaze at the distance for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
◆ Sort out your lenses. Screen users who wear contact lenses are four times more likely to have dry eyes, Spanish research has found. Choose contact lenses with a high water content or swap to specs when you’re online.