Digital Eye Strain | Rochester | Chili Vision Group

What Is Digital Eye Strain?

If your eyes feel tired, dry, or unfocused after time on a screen, you’re probably not imagining it. Digital eye strain (computer vision syndrome) happens when your eyes get overworked from staring at screens for long stretches. It’s common in both adults and kids.

Symptoms include:

Dry, burning, or watery eyes
Headaches
Blurred or double vision
Neck or shoulder tension
Difficulty focusing, especially after screen time

At Chili Vision Group, we don’t just treat symptoms. We look deeper. During your eye exam, we’ll investigate what’s behind your discomfort and build a care plan that supports your day-to-day screen habits.

Let’s give your eyes a break. Contact us to book your next eye exam today.

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What Causes Digital Eye Strain?

Screen time isn’t going anywhere, but how your eyes respond can be improved. Digital eye strain usually stems from a mix of:

Too much screen time without enough breaks
Dry eye, especially if you’re blinking less while focusing
Uncorrected vision problems like farsightedness or astigmatism
Glasses or contacts that aren’t designed for computer distance
Poor workspace ergonomics, like monitor height or lighting

How We Diagnose Digital Eye Strain

During your eye exam, we’ll discuss your lifestyle and symptoms. We’ll ask about your daily screen use, any changes you’ve noticed in your vision, and your workplace setup. Your posture, the lighting, and even the angle of your monitor can cause eye strain.

Once we have this information, we’ll check for:

Dry eye or signs of inflammation
Subtle focusing issues
Problems with eye coordination (how well your eyes work together)
Whether your current glasses or contacts are meeting your visual demands

Our goal is to pinpoint what’s causing your strain so that we can offer a solution that helps.

Personalized Solutions for Digital Eye Comfort

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for digital eye strain. We customize your care based on your prescription, work setup, and screen time.

Here’s how we help:

Computer-friendly glasses prescriptions that focus your eyes more comfortably at screen distance (which is closer than driving, but farther than reading)
Blue light filtering lenses that reduce glare and help minimize screen-related fatigue
Prescription updates that are optimized for your day-to-day work and digital life
Honest, approachable conversations about what changes can help most

Your treatment plan is all about you: your workspace, your routine, and your comfort.

Easy Changes You Can Make at Home or Work

If your eyes feel tired or irritated after a long day on screens, you’re not alone. The good news? You don’t always need to overhaul your routine to find relief.

Sometimes small shifts can make a big difference, especially when they support your eyes throughout the day.

Whether working at a desk, helping your kids with homework, or taking time to scroll on your phone, these simple changes can help ease the strain and support long-term eye comfort.

Here are a few tips our team often recommends.

Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something at least 20 feet away. This helps your eyes relax and reduces the fatigue that builds up during long periods of close-up focus.

Position your monitor so that the top of the screen is at or just below eye level. It should sit about an arm’s length away. Keeping your screen in the right spot can reduce strain on your eyes, neck, and shoulders.

Harsh or poorly placed lighting can make your eyes work harder. Try using soft, indirect light and minimizing glare from windows or overhead fixtures. You can also adjust your screen’s brightness to match the room lighting better.

We blink less when staring at screens, which can dry out our eyes. Over-the-counter lubricating drops can help keep your eyes feeling fresh, especially in dry office environments or during winter months.

Natural light and distance viewing give your eyes a break from near work. Encouraging kids (and adults) to spend time outside each day supports healthy vision and can also help slow the progression of nearsightedness.

Helping Your Eyes Feel Better

Tired, strained eyes shouldn’t slow you down. Whether you’re working, studying, or relaxing, we’re here to help you and your family see and feel your best.

Contact us to schedule your eye exam and learn more about how we can help you find relief from digital eye strain.

Request Appointment