How a Behavioural Optometrist Helps Fix Computer Eye Strain
If you use a computer screen a lot during your working day and then go home and use your mobile phone or tablet a lot in the evenings, then your eyes have to cope with a lot of screen work. Over time, this may give you some problems.
Too much screen time can give you headaches. It can also affect your eyes which may feel blurry, unfocused, sore or dry. While you can reduce some of the time you spend looking at screens, this may not solve the problem completely. Seeing a behavioural optometrist may be a better idea. Why?
What Is a Behavioural Optometrist?
Behavioural optometrists have the same training as regular optometrists; however, they've also trained in how to deal with problems that arise from the way you use your eyes. These problems could be developmentally, medically or lifestyle-based.
So, while a behavioural optometrist can give you a general eye test and look for problems that need correcting or treatment, they can also look at how your lifestyle and habits affect your sight and vice versa. They look at your vision more holistically.
How Does a Behavioural Optometrist Treat Screen Eye Strain?
As well as examining your eyes, a behavioural optometrist will talk to you about your eye strain problems and possible causes. They'll want to know how and when you use your eyes to do certain tasks, like looking at different types of screen.
From a technical perspective, the optometrist will examine your vision to see how your eyes deal with things like close and distance focus, alignment, coordination and visual attention. This tells them how your eyes perform when you look at screens and how these screens might be affecting your vision.
Depending on the extent of your problem and the condition of your eyes, the optometrist may tweak the way you wear glasses when you are on screens. For example, they may change your general prescription or give you a separate pair of glasses to use for screen work. They may even tell you not to wear your glasses when you use certain types of screens.
A behavioural optometrist can also tell you how to manage screen time so that you put less stress on your eyes. If your eyes get dry or irritated, then they may recommend ways to keep your eyes hydrated like eye drops.
To find out more, contact a local behavioural optometrist and book yourself an appointment.
When it comes to your body health, one of the most important parts to look after are your eyes because this is one item that cannot be repaired or replaced when they fail. As you age, your eyes change too, and I was not aware of that until my optometrist told me I needed bifocal glasses. I began this blog as a way of educating others over 40 about why you need to care for your eyes as you age. Cataracts, bifocal glasses, eyestrain and the need for regular eye check-ups are just a few of the subjects I will cover in my blog posts.