Let's be honest, as someone who spends hours coding and working on a computer every day, I know the struggle of eye strain all too well. It's that gritty, tired feeling that makes you want to rub your eyes constantly and can even lead to headaches. I was constantly searching for a solution to alleviate the pain and discomfort that comes with staring at screens all day. I'm excited to share what worked for me, and hopefully, it can help you too!
For a long time, I just accepted eye strain as part of the job. I thought it was inevitable. I noticed my eyes felt particularly bad after long coding sessions or when I was trying to debug a particularly nasty piece of code. The dryness, the blurred vision – it was all getting in the way of my productivity and making me generally miserable. It became clear that I needed to find a real solution and not just tough it out.
I realized the problem was that I was focusing on very near objects (my screen) for extended periods. This constant close-up work was tiring my eye muscles. I felt like my eyes were constantly working overtime.
I started researching and experimenting with different techniques to combat eye strain. Here's what I found helpful:
One of the first things I tried was the 20-20-20 rule. It's simple: every 20 minutes, I look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. I set a timer on my phone to remind me. At first, I felt silly, but I quickly noticed a difference. Those short breaks gave my eyes a chance to relax and refocus. It's amazing how much of a difference a few seconds can make!
I also paid attention to my lighting. I made sure my workspace was well-lit, but not glaringly bright. I also adjusted my screen brightness to match the ambient light in the room. I found that using dark text on a light background was much easier on my eyes than light text on a dark background. I know dark mode is trendy, but for me, it actually made my eye strain worse.
Another thing I implemented was taking regular breaks. During the day, I made an effort to look at things far away, like standing on my balcony and gazing at the horizon. In the evenings, I tried to avoid screens for at least an hour before bed. This helped my eyes (and my brain) wind down before sleep. I also found that using a night light in the evenings helped reduce eye strain.
I also started using blue light filtering glasses. I was skeptical at first, but I decided to give them a try. I found a pair from Mozaer Lens Shop that I really liked. They are comfortable and stylish, and I think they do make a difference in reducing eye strain, especially when I'm working late at night.
I specifically chose the Photochromic Gray Progressive Multifocal Reading Glasses from Mozaer. The photochromic feature is great because they adjust to the light, and the progressive lenses are perfect for reading and working on the computer. They are also lightweight and comfortable to wear for long periods. I think a good pair of glasses are essential when working long hours on a computer.
Here are a few other things that helped me: