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Silverlight Technology Group

Your Eyes vs the Screen

Angela Murdock
Aug 27
3 min read


Introduction


When so many people are working office jobs that require them to spend a large portion of their lives in front of a screen, the world needs to be educated on how it could affect their eyesight. Employees working in an office environment report experiencing 97 hours of screen time a week (Workplace Intelligence, 2025), and over a third of that comes from the workplace. This same study, which polled 1,600 full-time workers, found that 3 out of 4 employees struggle with digital eye strain. 59% of whom report that it leads to a drop in their productivity and effectiveness.


What do we mean by Digital Eye Strain?


Digital Eye Strain, or Computer Vision Syndrome, is a group of symptoms consisting of;


  • Eyestrain

  • Headaches

  • Blurred vision

  • Dry eyes

  • Neck and shoulder pain


Fortunately, symptoms are often temporary and should reduce alongside a reduction in screen time. However, some people may continue to experience symptoms even after they stop looking at a screen. If an individual continues to experience these symptoms without any intervention, their symptoms may worsen over time.


Should I buy blue light glasses?


Blue light glasses have been around for decades and are recommended to mitigate any damage done to our eyes by excessive screen time, but are they helpful? Currently, research shows that high levels of blue light, such as the amount put off by the sun, can put your eye health at risk, but no such evidence suggests the much smaller amount of blue light put off by screens has the same effects.


Blue light glasses

It’s possible that our eyes are being strained not by the blue light, but by the fact that you’re not blinking as often. According to vision health expert Dr. Sharmin Habib, “Continuous focus on screens decreases blink rate by nearly 70%! This leads to a reduced release of protective oil onto our tear film, increasing evaporation and dry eye symptoms.”


The strain can also be caused by staring at something close. When you’re staring at something close-up, like your phone or your computer screen, the lens of your eye naturally contracts, and if you aren’t looking away regularly, then you’re not giving it time to relax.


While there isn’t any strong evidence that blue-light glasses are effective at stopping eye strain entirely, it does help cut down glare. This is something that can be done with any pair of glasses that has an anti-reflective coating. We also know that they can be helpful for sleep, as blue light tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime and therefore slows melatonin creation. So, wearing blue light glasses in the evenings may help your brain create melatonin more effectively. Though the best recommendation is to turn off screens thirty minutes before bed if getting a good night’s sleep is your priority.



Steps to protect your eyes


  • Follow the 20-20-20 Rule

  • For every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, you should try to take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away.

  • Try to blink often

  • Use artificial tears if your eyes are feeling dry

  • Sit an arm's length from your screen

  • Adjust the screen brightness so it matches the ambient light level

  • Increase the font size or adjust the contrast

  • Get an eye exam regularly


Conclusion


Your health should be your biggest priority, and that includes your eyes. While we can’t escape screens in our daily lives, we can take steps to avoid straining them, whether that’s taking breaks throughout the workday, adjusting your screen to be far enough away, or trying to blink more often; make time for your eyes.


Did you notice a difference when you started working with screens more often? What did you do to fix it? Let us know below and stay supported!



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