The Most Common Eye Emergencies and How to Handle Them En Route to Our Office
Eye emergency? Whether it involves pain, debris in your eye, or sudden vision changes, learn what to do on your way to the office to help preserve your sight.
Working from Home? Here’s How to Protect Your Eyes
Your commute might be shorter these days, but your screen time? Probably not. If you’re one of the millions in the US who work from home, chances are your eyes are glued to a screen more than ever.
Prolonged screen time can lead to computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eye strain.
Dr. Donna Cooper and Dr. Sarah Chung see this a lot at Cooper Optometry in Santa Monica, California, and they know how to help. If you’re dealing with tired, dry, blurry eyes, a few simple changes can make a big difference in protecting your vision.
Your screen position might be the problem
Whether you’re at a kitchen table or a dedicated home office, your screen position affects how your eyes feel at the end of the day.
Ideally, your screen should sit about an arm’s length away, with the top of the monitor at or slightly below eye level. That helps you reduce strain and avoid opening your eyes too wide, which can lead to dryness.
Our doctors recommend:
- Keeping your screen about 20-28 inches away
- Reducing glare from windows or overhead lights
- Increasing the text size on your documents so you don’t squint
Small tweaks can make a big difference to keep your eyes relaxed instead of overworked.
Blink more
Blinking naturally keeps your eyes moist and comfortable. When you focus on your work, you subconsciously blink less. When you’re in the flow, working from home and staring into your screen all day, that reduced blink rate can cause your eyes to feel gritty, tired, irritated, and dry.
Be more intentional about blinking during long stretches of focused work. If your eyes still feel dry, we offer dry eye treatment options that go beyond basic eye drops to address the root cause of your symptoms.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule
The 20-20-20 rule is one of the best ways to reduce digital eye strain. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. It’s so simple, but it works really well.
Adopting this habit gives your eye muscles a break from constant close-up focus, helping reduce fatigue over time. Set a timer if you need to — your eyes will thank you.
Don’t brush off subtle vision changes
Maybe your eyes feel more tired than usual, or text on your documents seems slightly blurrier by the end of the day. These small shifts could mean:
- Your prescription has changed
- You need specialized computer glasses
- You’re dealing with strained or dry eyes
If you wear contact lenses, you may also notice they burn your eyes after long hours on your computer. Our doctors can make a quick adjustment to your lenses or switch them to a different type to make your workday more comfortable.
Routine comprehensive eye exams here in our office help detect these changes early to keep your vision sharp.
Build habits into your day that support your eye health
Protecting your eyes isn’t about a single big change. It’s about small habits that support your vision over time.
Remember to adjust your screen, take breaks, follow the 20-20-20 rule, and pay attention to how your eyes feel. If something feels off, like dryness that persists, headaches, or blurred vision, don’t push through it. Check in with Dr. Cooper or Dr. Chung as soon as possible.
Working at home shouldn’t come at the cost of your vision. At Cooper Optometry, we can help you stay comfortable and productive, whether you need relief from digital eye strain, updated prescriptions, or ongoing eye support.
Call our office or request an appointment online today.
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