How To: Avoid Lockdown Eye Strain
Self-isolation has come upon us with a tonne of added screen time, right? Between working from home, attending virtual school, shopping online, catching up with family over facetime, or arguing on zoom about your pub quiz score - we are staring at computers, phones, and televisions more than ever... If you’re experiencing dizziness, eye dryness, strain or headaches - you may be suffering from what we are branding this ‘Lockdown Eye Strain’.
We wanted to share some easy fixes that can soothe your eyes and improve your vision:
CHECK YOUR GLASSES
If you usually wear glasses ensure you are not neglecting them. It is easy to fall out of a routine while the world is a bit upside down but please try and continue wearing your glasses as required.
If you don’t have glasses but think perhaps you need reading glasses some common telltale signs include eye pain, fatigue, and headaches while reading. Wearing the right reading glasses can alleviate these symptoms however, you’ll want to see an optometrist to find the right strength of reading glasses for your needs.
If you have an up-to-date prescription we can add lenses to your online order and have your new glasses shipped the same day you order!
WEAR SUNGLASSES WHEN IT IS BRIGHT
As we aren’t spending as much time outside our eyes can become extra sensitive. Wearing sunglasses can help your eyes in so many ways, but one of the most important right now is that they possess light-filtering capabilities that will protect your eyes and allow them to adapt to your while you’re on the move.
As we aren’t spending as much time outside our eyes can become extra sensitive. Wearing sunglasses can help your eyes in so many ways, but one of the most important right now is that they possess light-filtering capabilities that will protect your eyes and allow them to adapt to your while you’re on the move.
BLINK
This advice might seem silly but you need to blink! Blinking distributes moisture all over the surface of your eye. But when you are focusing on something - such as a screen - you tend to blink less. If you’re blinking less then your eyes are not getting enough moisture. Think of it like stretching your muscles — just it is the tiny ones in your eyes!
SET UP YOUR SCREEN
If you’re working from home or binge-watching/gaming from home then make sure you have set up the screens you’re focusing on correctly.
First of all, make sure you’re looking straight at or slightly down at your screen. If your screen is too high, looking up will make you feel tired and might make the eyes dry out more easily - not to mention it can lead to awful neck strain.
Another tip for setting up your screens is to adapt the tones on your screen depending on the time of day. We’d recommend switching to warmer screen tones at night whether that be dimming the brightness or editing your theme. This is because there is less blue light in the natural environment in the evening, which signals the brain to start producing more melatonin and prepares you for sleep. As we aren’t spending as much time outdoors right now this change can be going unnoticed and subsequently this can confuse our eyes and our brains leading us to stay up later and not sleeping as well.
TREAT YOUR EYES
Eye drops make you blink when you put them in and they add moisture. Double win! You can use a simple over-the-counter set of eye drops, we’d always recommend sticking preservative-free artificial drops! Keep them next to you while you work and apply as you feel necessary.
Eye drops make you blink when you put them in and they add moisture. Double win! You can use a simple over-the-counter set of eye drops, we’d always recommend sticking preservative-free artificial drops! Keep them next to you while you work and apply as you feel necessary.
Another way to treat your eyes during a time of extra strain is to use a hot compress on your eyes. Simply soak a face cloth in warm [ensure it isn’t too hot!] water, rinse, then apply across your eyes. You have oil glands in your eyelids which help keep the eye lubricated. Applying some heat on the eyelid can open up those oil glands and help care for your dry eyes.
We hope this straightforward how-to helps!
If you have any questions about any eyewear during this time don’t hesitate to ask us on our live chat, email, or phone. We’re here for you.
Au revoir,
PRET A VOIR
PRET A VOIR
