Don’t forget about your eyes! It’s easy to get caught up in our screen time but a vital health hack to remember is the 20-20-20 rule.
The rule
The 20-20-20 rule means that every 20 minutes of screen time, you shift your focus to something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Apply this rule whether you are staring at a monitor for work, gaming on the big screen or scrolling through social media on your tablet.
The benefits
When you spend a lot of time staring at screens, your eyes may experience digital eye strain (DES), including dry eyes, blurred vision, eye pain and headaches. Over time these symptoms can become more persistent and impact your ability to work or enjoy screen time.
The idea behind the 20-20-20 rule is that you are looking away and allowing your eye muscles to relax and reduce DES symptoms. It is also an excellent reminder to blink, as studies have found that staring at screens typically reduces the number of times people blink, a likely cause of dry eyes.
So the next time you settle in for a long bout of screen time, set those 20-minute reminders. It only takes 20 seconds, do it for your eyes!
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References
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Computer, Digital Devices and Eye Strain. Accessed December 29, 2022.
- Cedars Sinai. Computer Vision Syndrome. Accessed December 29, 2022.
- Canadian Blood Service. The golden 20-20-20 rule and other tips for eye health. Accessed December 29, 2022.
- Contact Lens & Anterior Eye - The Journal of the British Contact Lens Association. The effects of breaks on digital eye strain, dry eye and binocular vision: Testing the 20-20-20 rule. Accessed December 29, 2022.
- Clinical Ophthalmology. The Relationship Between Dry Eye Disease and Digital Screen Use. Accessed December 29, 2022.
