Can Texting Harm Your Eyes?
Do you send 500 text messages a month? If you do, you’re in good company. According to the latest Nielsen study, that’s the average for most Americans. That’s a lot of text messages.
All that staring at a small screen can cause eye strain. The bright screen, glare and small text can make the eyes tired, dried out and stressed. This is known as “digital eye strain.” Blinking becomes erratic, causing the eyes to dry out and over texting can even cause headaches.
To avoid digital eye strain, consider the following tips:
- Adjust the contrast and brightness of your screen. It should be adjusted so that you are not straining to read it. When you are reading in the dark, adjust it again to your surroundings.
- Display a larger size text. Change the size of your text display to make the text easier to read and reduce squinting.
- Take breaks. Follow the 20-20-20 rule and look up from your phone every 20 minutes for 20 seconds. You should focus on something that is at least 20 or more feet away. This helps moisten your eyes and reduces strain.
For more information, please contact Doctors for Visual Freedom in Chicago at 312-291-9680 or doctorsforvisualfreedom.com.
