When your eyes feel dry, tired, or blurry after staring at a screen all day, you’re not imagining it. This is computer vision syndrome, a group of eye and vision-related problems caused by prolonged use of digital devices. Also known as digital eye strain, it affects over 60% of adults who spend more than two hours daily on computers, phones, or tablets. It’s not an infection or a disease—it’s a condition triggered by how we use technology. Your eyes weren’t built for 8-hour screen marathons, and your brain doesn’t know how to relax when the light keeps flashing.
What makes computer vision syndrome worse? blue light, high-energy visible light emitted by LED screens doesn’t help, but it’s not the main villain. The real issue is how you stare. When you’re focused on a screen, you blink up to 66% less than normal. Less blinking means your eyes dry out fast. Add poor lighting, glare, bad posture, or screens too close or too far, and your eyes are working overtime just to stay sharp. You might get headaches, neck pain, or even temporary double vision. These aren’t signs of aging—they’re signs your visual system is overloaded.
And it’s not just office workers. Students, remote employees, gamers, and even people scrolling through social media before bed are at risk. The problem grows as screen time increases—and there’s no sign it’s slowing down. You don’t need fancy glasses or expensive filters to fight it. Simple habits like the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds), adjusting screen brightness, and keeping your monitor at arm’s length can make a real difference. Some people benefit from computer glasses with anti-reflective coating, but most just need to change how they sit, blink, and rest their eyes.
The posts below cover everything you need to know: how screen time links to chronic eye discomfort, what studies say about blue light filters, why artificial tears help more than you think, and how posture and lighting play a bigger role than most people realize. You’ll find practical tips from people who’ve been there—no fluff, just what works.
Written by Mark O'Neill
Computer Vision Syndrome causes eye strain, headaches, and dry eyes from prolonged screen use. Learn proven, science-backed ways to prevent it - from the 20-20-20 rule to screen positioning and eye exams.