Adapting to a Digital World
Digital eye strain is common in today’s world of smartphones, laptops, widescreen TVs, and VR headsets. The more time we spend immersed in digital screens, the harder our eyes have to work—whether we know it or not.
Digital devices have made our lives infinitely easier at work and at leisure, but it’s essential to recognize their effect on our health. Attending regular comprehensive eye exams can help you adopt the right habits to benefit your overall health and lifestyle.
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What Is Digital Eye Strain?
Even if you have perfect vision, spending too long focusing on digital screens can give you a headache. Your optometrist can provide personalize usage recommendations for your eyes and lifestyle.
If you have uncorrected refractive errors, like myopia or hyperopia, focusing on digital devices can make your eyes work harder than they need to. It’s essential to wear the right corrective eyewear to perform daily activities comfortably.
Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain
If you spend long periods using digital devices and begin to experience some discomfort, you may have digital eye strain. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Sore, tired, burning, or itching eyes
- Overly watery or dry eyes
- Blurred or double vision
- Headache
- Sore neck, shoulders, or upper back
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty keeping your eyes open
Preventing Digital Eye Strain
Many factors can affect your overall comfort and ability to work for extended amounts of time, such as how long you use digital devices, the distance from your eyes to the screen, the setup of your workstation, and the lighting in your work area.
Awareness of your habits and what may harm your comfort and health is important. Some great tips to reduce your risk of digital eye strain are:
- Keeping screens about an arm’s length away from your eyes and 20 degrees below eye level.
- Setting colour and contrast tones to suit your eyes and match your screen’s brightness with your surroundings.
- Minimizing glare on your screen by angling it away from light sources or using an anti-glare screen protector.
- Keeping your screens clean and free of any dust, dirt, or fingerprints.
- Remembering to blink or use artificial tears to return moisture to your eyes.
Another great tip is the 20-20-20 rule, which recommends taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to focus on something 20 feet away. This can give your eyes a much-needed break and allow them to refocus.
Get Personalized Tips & More to Relief Your Eye Strain
Your optometrist can provide personlized insights to help you prevent and alleviate eye strain, so you can enjoy screen time and restore productivity.
Book an appointment today to talk to your optometrist.
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- Platinum in Contact Lenses
- Platinum in Eyeglasses
- Platinum in Sunglasses
- Platinum in Opticians
- Platinum in Optometrists
Dry Eye Services & Diagnostics
At Island Eyecare, we work hard to find innovative ways to invest in your eye health and vision. We offer a range of modern technologies and treatment options to help alleviate dry eye and offer you genuine relief.
Our main goal is to get to the root of your symptoms, so you can enjoy longer-lasting relief from red, scratchy eyes.
Rediscover Clearer Vision with MacuMira
Island Eyecare is excited to offer MacuMira, a groundbreaking, noninvasive treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). If you have vision loss caused by dry AMD, MacuMira could be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
This clinically tested technology uses microcurrent stimulation to help nourish and restore your vision, improving your ability to see and experience life with greater clarity. Schedule a consultation with us to learn if MacuMira can help you take the first step toward clearer vision.
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University Teaching Program
Dr. Shaun MacInnis is thrilled to serve as a Clerkship supervisor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry and Vision Science. The Clerkship program offers students invaluable hands-on experience, significantly enhancing their clinical, diagnostic, and management skills.
Our Location in Sydney
Find us in Sydney, Nova Scotia, on the corner of Welton Street and Spruce Street. Our office is down just from the Sydney Memorial Chapel. There is ample free parking next to our building.
Our Address
- 117 Welton Street
- Sydney, NS B1P 5R6
Contact Information
- Phone: 902-539-0800
- Email: [email protected]
Hours of Operations
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Our Testimonials
Super friendly services. Cleanliness and sterilization routines were impeccable! You will feel 100% safe and comfortable here. They also have very modern and numerous pieces of equipment to assure that every aspect of your eye care is investigated thoroughly!
Ron D.
Outstanding practice! Dr. Shaun MacInnis has totally re-vamped this facility with the most advanced technologies in eye care and vision needs. Extremely professional, knowledgeable, and courteous staff. I highly recommend Brittany, a tremendous optician, who is sure to provide you with excellent service for all of your eyewear needs! She is superior in her field! Well done Island Eyecare!
Elizabeth M
Professional and courteous staff, took time to explain and answer questions. Very thorough examination and use of the latest technologies to support the doctor.
Alan A.
It’s always a great experience going to Island Eyecare. Shaun and staff are extremely knowledgeable and always a great pleasure to deal with! Shout out to Jessica who made my visit today a little brighter with her awesome personality and helpfulness. 🙂
Deanna H.
Loved my experience. The inside was completely made over, which completely blew me away. The staff were extremely helpful and up to date with the latest trends and technologies. The eye care professional was professional and very thorough.
Roddie M.
