Skip to main content
714-465-9978 Request Appointment Pay online

Is Your Screen Time Affecting Your Vision? 5 Telltale Signs

iSight Vision Care Blog Is Your Screen Time Affecting Your Vision? 5 Telltale Signs
Is Your Screen Time Affecting Your Vision? 5 Telltale Signs

In today’s world, it’s almost impossible to live without screens. Your phone, your laptop, and your television are probably all present in your life and here to stay, but too much screen time can damage your eyes and affect your vision. 

At iSight Vision Care in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach, California, board-certified ophthalmologist Vicki Lin, MD, and optometrist Maryam Khatami, DO, specialize in treating dry eye and other eye problems associated with excessive screen time. 

If you look at screens too often, you may experience vision changes associated with computer vision syndrome, a type of eye strain. Look out for these five telltale signs that your screen time is affecting your vision.

1. Blurriness when your eyes focus 

Do you notice occasional blurry vision when your eyes switch focus from one distance to another? Your vision may become blurry when you look at something far away right after looking at something close to you, for example. 

This is a telltale sign of computer vision syndrome. It occurs because screens cause you to repeatedly focus and refocus — between various font sizes and levels of brightness, for example — and those constant micro-adjustments overwork your eyes.

2. Light sensitivity

When your eyes are overly sensitive to light (called photophobia), they may feel painful or uncomfortable in bright settings. You might instinctively shield your eyes or avoid going outside on sunny days. 

You might assume that looking at bright screens all the time would help your eyes adapt to lots of light, but the opposite is true. Excessive screen time can exacerbate light sensitivity.

3. Dry eyes and discomfort

Dry eye associated with computer vision syndrome stems from incomplete blinking or not blinking enough. Incomplete blinking happens when you only partially close your eyes each time you blink, which is common while using digital devices. 

Over time, this change in blinking can disrupt the tear film and affect tear quality, making it harder for your eyes to stay properly lubricated. If you develop dry eye from too much screen time, you may notice:

These symptoms can get worse the longer you spend looking at screens without breaks or not blinking fully.

4. Struggling to keep your eyes open

Too much staring at screens can tire out the muscles that keep your eyes open. Your eyelids may feel heavy, and you may want to close your eyes often to rest them, even when you’re fully awake. 

Let your optometrist know if you experience daily problems with keeping your eyes open that aren’t explained by a lack of sleep. 

5. Aches and pains in other places

It might surprise you to hear that unexplained neck pain, back pain, or shoulder pain can be linked to computer vision syndrome. These aches often develop because you subconsciously tense those muscles while trying to see the screen more clearly. 

It’s easy to forget to hold a straight posture when looking at a screen for hours at a time. If you experience neck or upper pain, especially alongside new eye problems like blurry vision and light sensitivity, let your optometrist know. 

Get in touch

It’s not too late to address computer vision syndrome and improve your eyesight. 

For more information on computer vision syndrome and how to manage it, call iSight Vision Care or request an appointment online today. Our team can help you preserve your eye health as you use screens in your everyday life. 

You Might Also Enjoy...