If you spend the day working on a computer, attending online meetings, using your phone, or switching between multiple screens, you may begin to experience dry eyes, burning eyes, eye pain, blurry vision, or headaches. These symptoms may be related to Digital Eye Strain, also known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)—a group of eye and vision-related symptoms associated with prolonged use of computers, smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices.
While eye strain generally does not cause permanent damage to the eyes, it can lead to discomfort and disrupt concentration and daily work. In some cases, these symptoms may also occur alongside other vision issues, such as an uncorrected or unsuitable prescription.
Key Takeaways
- Digital Eye Strain, or CVS, is a group of symptoms associated with prolonged screen use.
- Common symptoms include dry or burning eyes, tired eyes, eye pain, blurry vision, headaches, and neck or shoulder pain.
- When looking at a screen, many people blink less often, which can worsen dry-eye symptoms and discomfort.
- Taking visual breaks using the 20-20-20 rule, setting up the screen at an appropriate distance, and reducing glare can help ease visual strain.
- If you have a prescription or specific near-vision needs, glasses or lenses designed for your working distance may be worth considering. The right choice should be based on your prescription and visual habits.
- If symptoms do not improve after resting your eyes and adjusting your habits, consider having an eye exam to identify other possible causes.
Table of Contents
- What Is Digital Eye Strain?
- What Types of Eye Strain May Be Caused by Screen Use?
- Why Does Looking at Screens for Too Long Cause Eye Strain?
- 4 Easy Ways to Relieve Screen-Related Eye Strain During the Day
- What Are Anti-Fatigue Lenses? Are They Suitable for Screen Users?
- Is Blue Light the Main Cause of Screen-Related Eye Strain?
- When Should You Have an Eye Exam for Screen-Related Eye Strain?
- Use Your Eyes Every Day—Care for Them Every Day at Better Vision
- FAQs About Digital Eye Strain
What Is Digital Eye Strain?
Digital Eye Strain, also known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), is a group of eye and vision-related symptoms associated with prolonged use of computers, smartphones, tablets, and other digital screens.
Digital Eye Strain, also known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), is a group of eye and vision-related symptoms associated with prolonged use of computers, smartphones, tablets, and other digital screens.
What Types of Eye Strain May Be Caused by Screen Use?
Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:
- Tired or heavy-feeling eyes
- Dry, burning, or itchy eyes
- Watery eyes
- Pain or soreness around the eyes
- Intermittent blurred vision
- Headaches
- Increased light sensitivity
- Neck, shoulder, or back pain after prolonged screen use
If these symptoms occur frequently—especially after using screens for several consecutive hours—it may be time to adjust both your visual habits and working environment.
Why Does Looking at Screens for Too Long Cause Eye Strain?
The issue is not caused by the screen alone. Several factors often work together.
1. Blinking Less Often
When concentrating on a screen, we tend to blink less frequently. This can cause the tear film on the surface of the eye to evaporate more easily, leading to dry, burning, or irritated eyes.
2. Continuous Near Focusing
Working with computers, smartphones, or tablets requires the focusing system and eye movements to work continuously—especially when the screen distance or angle is not suitable.
3. Glare and Unsuitable Brightness
Light from windows, office lighting, or reflections on the screen can make you squint or strain your eyes more, causing fatigue more easily.
4. Uncorrected or Unsuitable Prescriptions
Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or glasses that are not suited to your working distance can increase the visual effort required for screen use and make Digital Eye Strain more noticeable.
4 Easy Ways to Relieve Screen-Related Eye Strain During the Day
1. Set Your Screen at an Appropriate Distance
Position your computer screen directly in front of you, generally about an arm’s length away, or around 50–100 cm. The top of the screen should be at or slightly below eye level, allowing you to view it comfortably without excessive bending, tilting your head, or straining your eyes.
For smartphones and tablets, avoid holding the screen too close to your eyes. Increase the text size so that you can read comfortably without squinting.
2. Give Your Eyes a Break With the 20-20-20 Rule
One of the easiest rules to remember is the 20-20-20 rule:
Every 20 minutes, look at an object about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Looking into the distance periodically gives your eyes a break from continuous near focusing.
Twenty feet is approximately 6 metres, so there is no need to measure precisely. Simply look away from your screen and focus on something in the distance, such as outside a window or at the far end of the room.
3. Reduce Glare and Adjust Screen Brightness for Comfort
A screen that is too bright, too dim, or affected by glare from windows and lighting can make it more difficult to see comfortably.
Try the following:
- Avoid placing your screen directly in front of a window or light source.
- Adjust screen brightness to suit the surrounding environment.
- Increase text size if you find yourself squinting or leaning closer to the screen.
- Reduce reflections on the screen as much as possible.
4. Choose Glasses and Lenses for Your Working Distance
For people who work with screens for long periods, checking both their prescription and actual working distance is important. Glasses that work well for driving or distance vision may not be the most suitable option for computer-screen distance.
If you need glasses, consult an eye-care professional about glasses or lenses designed for screen work or near-vision tasks. For some people, these may help reduce focusing effort.
What Are Anti-Fatigue Lenses? Are They Suitable for Screen Users?
Anti-fatigue lenses are designed to support near vision. The lower part of the lens has a small additional power to help reduce focusing effort during certain activities, such as reading documents, using a smartphone, or working at a screen.
They may be suitable for people who:
- Use a computer or smartphone for long periods
- Frequently switch between distance and near vision
- Experience eye strain or tired eyes during prolonged near work
- Have a prescription and need lenses that support their specific visual habits
However, not everyone with eye strain needs anti-fatigue lenses. Symptoms may also be caused by dry eyes, an unsuitable screen setup, prescription changes, or other factors. A vision assessment and review of visual habits are therefore recommended before selecting lenses.
Is Blue Light the Main Cause of Screen-Related Eye Strain?
Many people assume that blue light is the main cause of screen-related eye strain. However, current evidence does not indicate that blue light from screens is the primary cause of Digital Eye Strain.
Symptoms are more commonly related to other factors, including continuous near focusing, reduced blinking, screen distance and angle, glare, and an uncorrected prescription.
Therefore, to help reduce screen-related eye strain, it is more important to start with taking visual breaks, setting your screen at an appropriate distance, reducing glare, and ensuring your prescription is suitable—rather than relying on blue-light-filtering features alone.
When Should You Have an Eye Exam for Screen-Related Eye Strain?
If symptoms continue to occur despite adjusting your habits and taking regular visual breaks, consider having an eye exam—particularly if you experience:
- Frequent blurred vision when looking at a screen
- A need to squint or move the screen closer or farther away to see clearly
- Recurring headaches after visual tasks
- Eye pain or discomfort that interferes with work
- A noticeable change in your vision
- Current glasses becoming uncomfortable for computer use
Better Vision recommends consulting an eye-care professional for further assessment if self-care does not improve eye-strain symptoms.
Use Your Eyes Every Day—Care for Them Every Day at Better Vision
Screen work is now part of everyday life. Caring for your vision does not mean you need to stop using screens; it can begin with adjusting your visual habits and environment, as well as checking whether your prescription and current glasses still meet the demands of your working distance.
At Better Vision, optometrists and eye-care professionals can perform vision examinations and assess your visual habits to help recommend frames and lenses suited to everyday vision needs.
Use your eyes every day.
Remember to care for them every day.
If you use screens regularly and begin to experience eye strain, blurred vision, or feel that your current glasses no longer meet your needs, visit Better Vision for a vision examination and advice on lenses suited to your use.
FAQs About Digital Eye Strain
Q: Is Digital Eye Strain different from Computer Vision Syndrome?
A: In general, they refer to the same group of symptoms. Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS, is another term for Digital Eye Strain and covers eye and vision-related symptoms associated with prolonged digital-screen use.
Q: What are the symptoms of screen-related eye strain?
A: Common symptoms include tired eyes, dry eyes, burning eyes, blurred vision, eye pain, and headaches, as well as neck, shoulder, or back pain after prolonged screen use.
Q: What does the 20-20-20 rule help with?
A: The 20-20-20 rule gives your eyes a break from continuous near focusing. Every 20 minutes, look at something approximately 20 feet, or 6 metres, away for at least 20 seconds.
Q: What do anti-fatigue lenses do?
A: Anti-fatigue lenses are designed with a small additional power in the lower part of the lens to support near vision. They may help reduce focusing effort for people who spend extended periods on near-vision tasks or screens, but should be selected based on each person’s prescription and visual habits.
Q: If I have screen-related eye strain, do I need blue-light-filtering glasses?
A: Not necessarily. Current evidence does not clearly show that blue light from screens is the primary cause of Digital Eye Strain. Taking visual breaks, setting the screen at an appropriate distance, reducing glare, and ensuring your prescription is suitable are more important factors.
