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Computer vision syndrome

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computer vision syndrome digital eye strain American Optometric Association 20-20-20

Computer vision syndrome (CVS), also called digital eye strain, is a group of eye, vision, and sometimes neck or shoulder symptoms caused or worsened by prolonged use of computers, phones, tablets, or other screens. It usually reflects dry eye, reduced blinking, sustained near focusing, glare, and poor workstation ergonomics rather than permanent damage to the eyes. AAO EyeWiki overview
Common symptoms
  • Eye tiredness, burning, dryness, watering, or redness
  • Blurred or fluctuating vision, difficulty refocusing
  • Headache
  • Light sensitivity
  • Neck, shoulder, or back pain
What helps
  1. Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
  2. Blink deliberately, especially when reading or gaming. Preservative-free lubricating eye drops can help dryness.
  3. Position the monitor roughly an arm's length away, with its top at or slightly below eye level.
  4. Reduce glare from windows and lights, increase text size and contrast, and avoid using screens in a very dark room.
  5. Take regular screen breaks and correct any uncorrected refractive error with an updated eye examination. If you use contact lenses, dryness can be more noticeable.
  6. Blue-light filtering glasses are not proven to prevent CVS for most people. Comfort may improve for some users due to reduced glare or an appropriate prescription, but they are not a substitute for breaks and ergonomic changes.
CVS is common. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis reported a high prevalence across studied populations, though estimates differed substantially by setting, screen exposure, and diagnostic criteria. Systematic review
Seek an eye-care assessment if symptoms persist despite these measures, or if you have eye pain, marked redness, sudden or persistent loss of vision, double vision, flashes/floaters, or severe headache.
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