PlayInfoBox

Home /Education /How to Prevent Eye Strain and Dry Eyes

How to Prevent Eye Strain and Dry Eyes

Tap an item to see more detail.

  1. The 20-20-20 Rule

    After 20 minutes of screen time, look at something roughly 20 feet (about 6m) away for 20 seconds. This gives your eyes' focusing muscles a brief rest and helps reduce eye fatigue.

  2. Adjusting Screen Brightness and Distance

    Match your screen brightness to roughly the level of the surrounding light, and keep a distance of about 40–70cm (16–28 inches) between your eyes and the screen. A screen that's much brighter or dimmer than its surroundings tires your eyes faster.

  3. Blinking Consciously

    Staring at a screen sharply reduces how often you blink, which can dry out your eyes more easily. Consciously blinking more often helps keep your tear film evenly spread and reduces dry eye.

  4. Managing Indoor Humidity

    A dry indoor environment speeds up tear evaporation, which can worsen dry eye. Using a humidifier or ventilating regularly to keep indoor humidity around 40–60% can help.

  5. Tips for Using Artificial Tears

    Overusing preservative-containing artificial tears can actually irritate the eyes, so if you need to use them often, a preservative-free single-dose product is a better choice. If symptoms persist, an eye exam can help identify the underlying cause.

  6. Blue Light and Ambient Lighting

    Whether blue light from screens is itself a direct cause of eye fatigue is still debated, but staring at a bright screen in a dark room for long periods can increase glare and eye strain, so it's a good idea to keep the surrounding area reasonably lit.

Why Eyes Get Tired From Screen Time

Extended screen focus reduces how often you blink and keeps your eyes' focusing muscles in a constant state of tension, which is why your eyes tire out easily. Changing just a few daily habits can significantly reduce eye strain and dry eye.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are dry eye and eye strain the same thing?

They're not exactly the same, but the two are closely connected β€” tired eyes blink less often, which can worsen dry eye, and dry eye in turn makes the eyes tire more easily, creating a cycle.

How many times a day can I use artificial tears?

The recommended frequency varies by product, so it's best to follow the instructions on the label β€” if symptoms persist or you find yourself using more and more, an eye exam can help identify the cause.