Staring at a screen is something many people who are working from home these days spend far too much time doing. Having your home space also serve as your workplace means lines can easily get blurred, and you find yourself glued to your devices for extra hours every day.
Harlem VistaSite Eye Care in New York City provides a full range of eye care services, including treatment for dry eyes. Here’s what we recommend you do if you work at home and are having dry eye symptoms.
Dry eye syndrome can mean your eyes feel hot, itchy, scratched, gritty, or burning like someone sprayed a chemical in them. They might also look red, and your vision could get blurry. Rubbing and pressing against your eyes doesn’t do any good; in fact, it makes things worse.
People who work from home don’t stop staring at their screen as much as people who work in an office do. At home, it’s easy to get locked in the zone and barely blink as you type and scroll. The result is major eyestrain and the tendency of your eyes to dry out.
You may be able to prevent or reduce eye dryness as a work-from-homer. Try these four tips to reduce eye strain and prevent dryness.
Every 20 minutes, opt for a 20-second break, and use that brief time to look at something at least 20 feet away. This 20-20-20 rule helps you give your eye muscles a break, and you’ll also remember to blink as you refocus.
You can reduce eye strain by checking your monitor settings or installing an app that provides a filter on your screen. By switching to a pale golden background with dark brown letters instead of a white background with black letters, you can give your eyes a more restful experience.
Over-the-counter eye drops may help resolve your issue if you only suffer from occasional dry eyes. If symptoms persist, there might be something more to your issue, and you should definitely get checked out by an eyecare professional.
Part of the solution for “dry” anything is hydration. Make sure that you’re drinking enough water and other fluids to help your tear ducts do their job. Adding omega-3 fatty acids like flaxseed oil to your diet can help, too.
At Harlem VistaSite Eye Care, our specialists routinely recommend solutions for dry eyes, such as prescription eye drops, tear duct cleanouts, or even amniotic membrane treatments to restore natural tear production.
To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling 646-453-6506, or book online.
