From early emails to late-night scrolling, our eyes are spending more time on screens than ever. If you’ve noticed burning, blurry vision, or headaches by the end of the day, you’re not alone. Digital eye strain is a growing concern for kids and adults, especially in places like Newport Beach, where work, school, and social lives often overlap on a screen.
The good news? There are simple, proven ways to protect your vision. At SALT. Optometry, we help patients build real-life strategies (and better lens solutions) to stay focused and comfortable online and off.
What Is Digital Eye Strain?
Also known as computer vision syndrome, digital eye strain happens when your eyes become fatigued after extended screen use. It’s not just about screen brightness or bad posture (though those contribute). The real issue? Your eyes weren’t designed to focus up close for hours at a time.
When you stare at a screen, your eyes are constantly working to maintain sharp focus, track small movements, and adjust to fluctuating lighting, all while blinking far less than usual. Over time, that can lead to symptoms like:
- Blurry or fluctuating vision
- Dryness or burning
- Headaches (especially around the temples or behind the eyes)
- Neck or shoulder tension
- Trouble focusing or mental fatigue
Digital eye strain can affect anyone, but it’s especially common in professionals, students, and anyone who uses screens for more than 2–3 hours per day, which, let’s be honest, is most of us.
Why Screen Fatigue Is So Common in Newport Beach
Let’s face it, our days revolve around screens. Whether you're working from a laptop in a Lido café, toggling between video calls and emails, checking your surf report on your phone, or catching up on Netflix after dinner, your eyes are rarely getting a break.
In Newport Beach and the surrounding Orange County areas, where work-life balance often blends with an active, on-the-go lifestyle, screen fatigue sneaks in fast. It doesn’t help that many of us go from backlit screens indoors to sun-glare outside, creating constant shifts in lighting and focus that push our eyes to work overtime.
Symptoms of Screen-Related Eye Strain
Not sure if your screen time is affecting your eyes? Many people chalk up their symptoms to stress, aging, or “just being tired”. Here are the most common signs:
- Blurry vision, especially after extended near work
- Dry, gritty, or burning eyes
- Watery eyes (yes, this can actually be a sign of dryness)
- Headaches, particularly around the temples or behind the eyes
- Neck, shoulder, or upper back tension
- Difficulty refocusing when shifting between screens and distance
- Feeling mentally foggy or fatigued after screen use
- Needing to blink or rub your eyes frequently
If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it’s a sign your eyes are being overworked, and it may be time to rethink your screen habits.
How to Protect Your Eyes from Screen Strain
You don’t have to overhaul your lifestyle to give your eyes some relief. These simple, proven strategies can make a big difference, especially when paired with the right lens technology and regular eye care.
Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This helps relax your eye muscles and reset your focus throughout the day.
Don’t Forget to Blink
We naturally blink less when we’re looking at screens, leading to dryness, irritation, and blurry vision. Set gentle reminders to blink more often, and keep artificial tears nearby if needed.
Adjust Your Screen Setup
Keep your monitor about an arm’s length away and position the screen so your gaze is slightly downward. Reduce screen glare, increase contrast, and take regular posture breaks to reduce muscle strain.
Consider Blue Light & Anti-Fatigue Lenses
Blue light–filtering lenses may help reduce glare and screen-related tension, especially for nighttime use. SALT. Optometry offers prescription and non-prescription lenses with anti-fatigue features that relieve eye stress without altering screen color or sharpness.
Schedule Regular Eye Exams
Small prescription changes can lead to big comfort improvements, especially if you’re straining to focus without realizing it. We can also check for signs of dry eye or subtle misalignments that contribute to screen-related fatigue.
Let’s Help Your Eyes Feel Better
If screen time is leaving your eyes tired, strained, or unfocused, it’s time to take a closer look—literally. At SALT. Optometry, we offer customized care, advanced diagnostics, and lens solutions designed for modern life. Schedule an eye exam and let’s build a vision routine that helps you feel better at the end of every day.