How have you been spending your time at home during this global pandemic? Being under lock down in our respective places where we stay, how are you using this time to unplug from the digital world? Are you having a digital detox or are you hooked to the internet more than ever?
With little or no self-control around the use of digital devices, it can be strenuous to our eyes. Moreover, while many of us are still working from home and classes being moved to online, the increase of screen time is inevitable. It can result in eyestrain, headache, blurred vision and dry eyes. In addition, excessive screen time can lead to irregular sleeping schedules, obesity and mental distress, However, good ergonomics and safety for computer workstation users is to be practiced for the sake of our eyes’ and mental health!
Solution to that is to simply follow the 20-20-20 Rule, 20 seconds is all it takes to completely give your eyes the break it deserves. Yes! It is as simple as it sounds! For every 20 minutes spent on screen, you should look at something that is 20 feet away from you, for a total of 20 seconds.During this break, do not just look at something that is 20 feet away but actually get up, keep yourself hydrated and give yourself a good stretch. If your body is hydrated, your eyes will be as well.
Research has revealed that continuous gazing on the screen reduces blinking rate by 60 percent, resulting in dry eye syndrome. So, blink your eyes, or use artificial tear drops to moisturise your eyes if needed.
If you tend to get too engrossed while working on the computer, set yourself a 20 minutes alarm as a reminder to take breaks. Develop this simple screen time rule and your eyes will thank you!