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American adults spend about seven hours looking at a screen each day. Whether you're on a computer or glued to your phone, extended screen time can affect your eye health.��

“Computers can take a toll on eyes,” says Christopher Starr, M.D., FACS, ophthalmologist at Israel Englander Department of Ophthalmology at AV�о���. “It's called computer vision syndrome. It usually involves eye strain from fatigue due to staring at fixed near-distance targets all day long.”��

It may not be possible to significantly lower the amount of time you spend looking at a screen. Still, there are several steps you can take to prevent computer vision syndrome and promote eye health. Here are a few tips to get started.��

Follow the 20-20-20-20 Rule��

Dr. Starr recommends the 20-20-20-20 rule to decrease dryness and fatigue:��

Block Out the Blue if It Works for You��

blocking blue light from screens is not an effective way to reduce eye strain. However, anecdotally, many people report that blue-light-blocking glasses are helpful. Dr. Starr says if you like blue-light-blocking glasses, wear them.����

You may also be able to get the same effect without the cost of glasses. Most devices now come with a “blue shift mode” setting that turns off all blue light pixels. You can leave this setting on 24/7 or program it to turn on and off at certain times of the day.����

Consider Computer Glasses��

Whether you currently wear glasses or not, a pair of computer glasses may help protect your eyes and increase comfort.��

“We often recommend people who spend many hours a day on computers to get computer glasses,” says Dr. Starr. “These are glasses that are ideally suited to arm's length, and will keep that distance in focus to alleviate a lot of that burden on the eye muscles trying to keep things in focus.”��

If you already wear glasses and don’t want a second pair, computer glasses can be added to your current prescription to create bifocals or trifocals.��

Get An Eye Exam��

No matter how many hours a day you spend online, regularly scheduled eye exams are vital to eye health. A comprehensive exam can detect issues early and help prevent computer vision syndrome and related complications. If you're noticing changes, it’s time to see an ophthalmologist.��

“Anybody who has a change in their eyes or their vision, definitely do not ignore it,” says Dr. Starr. “Go straight to your eye doctor and have it checked out.”��

For more eye health tips and a comprehensive eye exam, schedule an appointment with a AV�����ophthalmologist.��