What Can I Do?

The solution is simple: take breaks. If you have children, use the settings on their tablets to limit screen time during the day and minimize the damage that they are doing to their eyes. Encourage outdoor and creative play, which will lead to healthier habits later in life. If you find yourself tethered to technology, use your days off to disconnect, or put down the phone during evening hours and on weekends to focus on other hobbies or activities.

If you work on computers, take a 10-minute break from the screen every hour - whether it’s using the restroom, jotting notes on pen and paper, reviewing hard copy documents, or brainstorming with coworkers.

Technology Can Lead To Tension Headaches

While this isn’t an eye problem directly, how we manage our technology and look at our screens can lead to headaches, back pains, and neck pains for a number of reasons. Text neck is a term that doctors have given to describe neck pain that results from bending our heads forward to stare at smartphone devices.

Likewise, staring straight ahead at our computer screens all day can cause head and neck pain because we aren’t able to shift our screens to accommodate our body’s need to shift positions. Also, reading content on high contrast screens can cause the muscles in our temples to spasm, which leads to stress or tension headaches.

What Can I Do?

If you’re going to use a device as an eReader for books, lengthy articles, or other documents, choose a reader that has a green background, such as a Kindle or Nook. If you are a die-hard Apple fan, change the settings on your iPad or iPhone to lower the screen contrast, which can help you avoid these headaches.

If you find yourself with back and neck pain, try holding your phone straight out in front of you when you type, rather than hunching over the device. Or try an ergonomic chair or yoga ball for your office. This will improve your posture and limit the pain you feel after a day at work.