5 Tips to Help Your Patients Dodge Digital Eye Strain this Cyber Monday

Photo: Viktor Hanacek, picjumbo.com

As hundreds of thousands of bargain hunters wreak havoc on malls and outlets across America this Black Friday, savvy online shoppers will be avoiding chaos and potential bodily harm by waiting until Cyber Monday to score their holiday deals.

But while it reduces the likelihood of being caught in a stampede of savings-crazed soccer moms, Cyber Monday can come with its own drawbacks. Online shoppers spending as little as two hours in front of a screen on Cyber Monday are susceptible to digital eye strain. And let’s face it, you don’t have to be a shopaholic to get sucked down the Amazon rabbit hole and hit that two-hour threshold.

Fortunately, there are a few ways you can help your patients defend their eyes on Cyber Monday, regardless of how long it takes them to find this season’s must-have gift. And unlike prepping for the carnage at the local outlets or mega store on Black Friday, none of them require padding or a helmet. 
​
Here are five simple tips you can use to help take the strain out of screen time this Cyber Monday:

1. Shed Some Light on Blue Light
Knowledge is power. If they don’t know that blue light exposure can lead to digital eye strain, they won’t think to reduce their exposure. So be sure to give them the low-down on this high-energy light emitted by their screens.

2. Explain the 20/20/20 Rule
While it might be hard for the avid shopper to pry their eyes away from the screen for fear of missing a flash sale on this year’s ugliest Christmas ties, taking a break is essential for combating eye strain. Encourage patients to take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and focus their eyes on something at least 20 feet away.

3. Reduce the Brightness, Increase the Font Size
Many times, the simple solutions are the overlooked ones. Turning down the screen brightness and increasing font size can reduce squinting, glare, and subsequent eye strain. 

4. Offer Tips on Available Technology
The blue light issue hasn’t gone unnoticed by app or device developers. Many smartphones and tablets now come preloaded with blue-light-reducing technology that can be turned on and off. And apps are available for both Android and Apple devices to cut back the amount of blue light coming from a screen. 

5. Recommend a Blue Light Lens Coating
TechShield Blue is the perfect lens enhancement for everyone from Cyber Monday marathoners to one-and-done shoppers. It’s an AR coating that absorbs and reflects blue light wavelengths specifically associated with digital eye strain. So even if they drop while they shop, their eyes will feel better when they get back up. 

There you go. Five easy ways to help your patients dodge digital eye strain this Cyber Monday.