WHAT IS EYE STRAIN?

Eye Strain is a condition in which the eyes become tired from excessive or intense use. Much like the muscles in your body, your eyes can also get tired and feel fatigued, which may cause you to experience physical eye discomfort. What you might not realize is that this discomfort could be linked to High Energy Visible Blue Light, also known as HEV Blue Light. HEV Blue Light is a type of light with short wavelengths emitting a higher energy, which can penetrate deep into the eye.

While the sun emits the strongest levels of blue light known to be harmful, artificial light sources such as LED indoor lights, headlights, televisions, computer monitors, handheld device screens from mobile phones and tablets could also be harmful because of the proximity and prolonged exposure to our eye. Many people suffer physical eye discomfort after screen use for longer than two hours at a time, also known as digital eye strain. According to the Vision Council, more than 87% of Americans report using digital devices for more than two hours per day.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of eye strain may include:

• Dry, tired, burning or irritated eyes
• Blurred or double vision
• Headaches
• Shoulder, neck or back pain
• Increased sensitivity to light

HOW CAN YOU REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE TO HEV BLUE LIGHT?

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Optical and electronic companies have created lenses, coatings, screen covers and software that reduce blue light emissions. Eyeglass lenses are also available with blue light-filtering technology to reduce your exposure to HEV Blue Light.

The KODAK Lens solution for blue light-filtering lenses is KODAK Total Blue™ Lens, which offers your eyes 100% protection from UV rays and filters Harmful Blue Light, decreasing the risk associated with long-term exposure to UV and HEV rays. While filtering out Harmful Blue Light, KODAK Total Blue™ Lens allows low energy blue light, which is essential for true color perception and essential sleep cycle rhythms, to pass through to the eye. It is recommended that whenever possible, the exposure to HEV Blue Light emitting devices be reduced or eliminated, especially before bedtime.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP REDUCE YOUR RISK OF EYE STRAIN:

Use the 20-20-20 rule

• Take a 20 second break every 20 minutes to look at an object that is 20 feet away

Adjust your computer settings

• Position your computer screen at an arm’s distance for the proper viewing distance
• Adjust the brightness of your computer screen so that it is the same as the brightness of your surroundings
• Adjust the text size to better define content on your computer screen
• Reduce the color temperature of your computer screen to lower the amount of blue light emitted by the display

Reduce glare

• Reduce overhead lighting to eliminate screen glare

Blink often

• When staring at digital devices, we tend to blink less frequently – ensure that you blink often to moisten your eyes and prevent dryness and irritation