Why do screens dry out your eyes?
Every blink spreads a fresh layer of tears across the eye. When you concentrate on a screen, you blink much less. In a study of people with dry eye, blinking dropped from about 17 times a minute during conversation to under 7 times a minute at a screen, and stayed low after half an hour of work.1
Many of the blinks you do make at a screen are incomplete, closing only part of the way. A 2022 review found that this combination leaves the tear film unstable and the eye’s surface irritated.2
What does dry eye feel like at the screen?
- Burning, stinging or a gritty feeling
- Red or tired eyes
- Blurry vision that clears when you blink
- Watery eyes, as the eye overcompensates
- Sensitivity to light
These overlap with digital eye strain, and many people have both.
Why does dry eye make light hurt?
The surface of the eye is packed with nerve endings. When the tear film breaks down, those nerves become irritated and more reactive, and light can become uncomfortable. Dry eye is a common cause of light sensitivity.3 A bright, harsh screen is hard to look at with irritated eyes. Read more about light sensitivity.
How to relieve dry eyes at the screen
- Every 20 minutes, look away and blink fully a few times.
- Ask your eye doctor about lubricating drops.
- Keep the screen slightly below eye level, so your eyes don’t have to open as wide.
- Keep air from fans, heaters and vents off your face.
- Use a humidifier in dry seasons.
- Use a screen that’s comfortable to look at, without glare or flicker, so you’re not squinting.