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Staring at screens all day? Your eyes might be drying out without you noticing. Learn why this happens, what symptoms to watch for
Do you find your eyes to be dry constantly when you have been staring at a screen? Perhaps they are sleepy, itchy or just start watering. And, in case you say yes, then you are not alone. Now so many people are faced with this due to all the screens that are in our lives.
Cell phones, laptops, tablets, TVs,… we are on it all day long. What about our eyes? They can hardly follow. We are going to chat about why screen time makes your eyes dry and how to feel better.
No medical knowledge is called upon to see this. We will discuss it in the way that we explain to our patients at the clinic. Honest, basic language.
It’s not your imagination. When you use screens, you blink way less. Normally, you blink about 15 to 20 times a minute. But when you’re staring at a screen, it drops to maybe 5 or 6.
Blinking keeps your eyes moist. Every time you blink, tears spread across your eyes like a little cleaning wipe. If you blink less, the moisture doesn’t spread, and your eyes dry out.
That’s the simple reason. Less blinking means more dryness.
Here’s what we hear from patients almost every day:
If any of that sounds like you, there’s a good chance your eyes are reacting to screen time.
We’re not here to say stop using your phone or quit your job. That’s not real life. We get it. Screens are part of your routine. You just need to know how to use them without hurting your eyes.
There are small things you can do to give your eyes a break.
Here’s what we actually tell our patients to try:
Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This helps your eye muscles relax.
Sounds silly, but it works. Try to blink fully and slowly every once in a while while using a screen. Just reminding yourself to blink more helps.
Pick preservative-free artificial tears. Don’t buy the “red-eye” ones. If you’re not sure which brand is good, just ask us. We’ll guide you.
Keep your screen slightly below your eye level. That way your eyes don’t open too wide. Also, lower the brightness a bit and avoid using screens in the dark.
Drink more water during the day. It helps your whole body, including your eyes. And if you use air conditioning, try a small humidifier nearby.
If your eyes feel dry all the time or the usual tips don’t help anymore, it’s a good idea to come see us. Sometimes it’s more than just screen time. You might have something like Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (we call it MGD), or even allergies that are affecting your eyes.
We do a full dry eye checkup. It’s quick, easy, and gives us a clear idea of what’s causing the problem.
Some people just get used to the discomfort. But that’s not a good idea. Long-term dry eyes can cause bigger problems like:
So even if it seems small now, it’s worth taking care of it early.
If you’ve been putting up with dry eyes for weeks or months, please don’t wait anymore. We help people like you every single day. And most of the time, the solution is easier than they expected.
Even if you just want to ask something small like “Which drops should I use?” you can call us or send a message. We’re here to help.
We’re not just your optometrist in Palo Alto. We’re your eye partner. And we want you to feel better, see clearly, and enjoy your screen time without pain.
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