EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME ON DRY EYE
April 13, 2020
With increased down time away from work or school, many of us have seen a jump in the number of hours per day on our electronic devices – phones, tablets and computers. These devices are a major contributor to Dry Eye disease. Here are a few tips to ensure you reduce your risk for Dry Eye disease progression:
- Remember to blink – our blink rate drops by as much as 50% while we are on electronic devices. Blinking frequently and fully while you look away from the screen is a must to ensure your tears are adequately dispersed across the front of your eyes.
- Look away periodically – the “202020 Rule” refers to looking at a distance of 20 ft for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes. The eye muscle complex that engages while on computers is very active, and relaxes as soon as you look at an object far away. Follow this rule to give your visual system a break from time to time.
- Keep up your treatment – dry eye symptoms are not consistent, but your therapy should be. Keep up your drops, heat mask, omega 3 vitamins and other treatments as prescribed to keep the chances of a spike in your symptoms to a minimum, even when your symptoms are minimal.
- Limit your sessions – avoid spending hours at a time at the computer. Break up your sessions into smaller pieces of an hour or two at a time. Do something else in between that is not so visually intensive – go for a walk or a run, take the dog out, or watch a show.
- Ergonomics matter – maintain the right distance from your eyes – laptop screens should be just inside of arm’s length (top of screen just below your line of sight), and tablets and phones at reading distance held a bit lower
Dry eye can cause acute symptoms that can be quite painful. If you suspect you may be suffering from acute Dry Eye symptoms, initiate an online consult with one of our doctors by clicking here.
Discover Opal's playful and stylish children's eyewear, blending fashion and entertainment with popular licenses that kids love.
Celebrate ØRGREEN OPTICS’ legacy with the 1415 campaign, a tribute to Copenhagen’s oldest postal code. Discover how the city’s canals and creative energy inspire their unique designs.
Explore Etnia Barcelona’s new eyewear collection, where vibrant colors, bold contrasts, and premium acetates create striking designs. Celebrate individuality with frames that exude confidence and style.
Dive into Etnia Barcelona's Underwater campaign, a surreal exploration of the ocean's depths. Discover a mystical AI-created world where vibrant flora, fauna, and mythical beings bring the beauty of the deep sea to life.
Discover Maui Jim sunglasses at Mountain View Optometry, featuring PolarizedPlus2® lens technology for superior glare protection, enhanced colors, and UV defense. Experience unmatched clarity and eye comfort with premium polarized lenses.
Maui Jim Sunglasses Spring-Summer 2025
Thierry Lasry Eyewear Calgary - 2024 Campaign
Thierry Lasry Eyewear Calgary - 2023 Campaign
As a locally owned business, we deeply appreciate your support. Recent events have prompted us to reflect on how many other Canadian companies are also supported when you visit us for eye care services. This month, we are proud to highlight one of our key “Made in Canada” suppliers – ZEISS Vision. Specializing in precision optics, ZEISS spectacle lenses are designed to improve vision in several ways, including sharper vision at night, better contrast, and more natural colours. When you order a set of new ZEISS lenses from MVO, you support a Canadian company employing 250 dedicated staff who work hard to custom build the glasses you will be wearing for (on average) the next two to three years! Thank you for your commitment to keeping your business in Canada!
Visual snow syndrome (VSS) is a condition that causes people to see visual disturbances similar to static on a television. This "visual snow" can be persistent and is often accompanied by other symptoms that can affect daily life. As more people learn about visual snow syndrome, it becomes essential to understand its symptoms, potential causes, and how to manage it.