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How to Decrease Eye Strain from Screens: The 20-20-20 Rule
Here at the practice of Dr. Edwin M. Schottenstein,
we place an emphasis on a patient’s visual health. With our exceptional eye exams and eye services, we’re glad to give you the care and treatment necessary to keep your eyes in great shape. Even if you’re not at our office to visit your Manhattan and NYC eye doctor, we’re still happy to provide you with tips that can be helpful on a daily basis. One of these tips happens to deal with decreasing eye strain that occurs when looking at any kind of digital screen.
Truthfully, it practically seems that everything nowadays is on some kind of screen. Your television, your computer, your laptop, your iPad, your cell phone, and so many other devices use digital screens. While this can be incredibly convenient, the downside is that it can be harmful to your eyes as well. If you’re going to be in front of a computer or any other screen for a long period of time, we recommend following the 20-20-20 rule to rest your eyes.
What Is the 20-20-20 Rule?
First, we’d like to explain what the 20-20-20 rule actually is. The 20-20-20 rule states that if you’re staring at a screen, every 20 minutes, you should take a 20-second break and focus your eyes on something else that’s at least 20 feet away. This 20-second break was the chosen number as it takes a person’s eyes about this much time to relax.
Why This Is Needed
While staring at a screen for a long period of time won’t cause any permanent damage to your eyes, it’ll likely make your eyes feel tired and dry. Additionally, you may suffer from eye strain, fatigue, or even blurry vision. By following through with the 20-20-20 rule, you’ll give your eyes some much-needed rest and keep them from getting strained.
How Does This Eye Strain Occur?
Normally, people will blink about 15 times per minute. However, when a person is using a computer or another digital screen, he or she will only end up blinking around half to a third as often as usual. Blinking is vital for tears to form on the eye surface; inadequate blinking can cause a person’s eyes to become dry and irritated.
Contact Your Manhattan and NYC Ophthalmologist!
If you have any questions about eye strain or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be glad to help in any way that we possibly can. If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with your NYC and Manhattan eye doctor, feel free to give us a call at (212) 874-2300. We’re looking forward to hearing from you and helping you keep up with your visual health!