Halifax, Nova Scotia
902.446.4470

Digital Eye Strain Solutions in Halifax

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What is “Too Much Screen Time”?

Whether you are at home, at work, or at school, there is a pretty good chance that you will be spending a portion of your day looking at some form of digital screen. In fact, recent research has shown that the average adult spends up to 11 hours of their day interacting with digital screens. That is a lot of time!

Spending these extended periods on a device can lead to problems with your eyes, including dryness and possible refractive issues. This is why we at Ocean Optometry offer eye exams that can include treatments to help reduce or manage your digital eye strain symptoms so you can get back to the digital world for school, work, or play!

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What Causes Digital Eye Strain?

Maybe you’ve experienced this before: you’ve been sitting in front of your computer for a couple of hours working or maybe playing a video game when suddenly you start to find that your eyes are feeling tired and watery, and that you are having trouble focusing your gaze.

When you are focusing on a single object for an extended period, you tend to blink less. This, combined with high screen brightness and a poorly lit room, can lead to your eyes working far harder than they need to, causing strain.

Symptoms can include:

Light sensitivity
Headaches
Irritation, soreness, or redness
Blurry or double vision

If you have already been diagnosed with a refractive vision error like myopia, presbyopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, your symptoms can be exacerbated.

Recent research has also suggested that spending too much time on digital screens can lead to the early development of childhood myopia. As a parent, you can help mitigate myopia development by limiting the amount of screen time your child has with digital devices.

What Can You Do?

Your optometrist can help you get to the root of the problem, and provide treatments or strategies to prevent or minimize digital eye strain.

There are a few things you can try at home to help prevent digital eye strain. These include:

Following the 20/20/20 rule. You can perform this exercise anywhere, and it could provide you with the relief you need to power through the rest of your workday or gaming session. Every 20 minutes, look at an object about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives your eyes a quick rest to readjust and relax before continuing with your task.
Changing your lighting. Whether it’s the brightness of your screen, lighting in the room you’re in, or a combination of both, you can adjust the lighting, so your eyes aren’t working harder than they need to be.
Using eye drops. Eye drops can soothe your eyes from strain, and there is a wide variety of drops available either over-the-counter or by prescription. For the best eye drops for you, please talk to your optometrist.

Eyewear Solutions

Blue Light Blocking / Anti-Fatigue Lenses

There are some misconceptions about blue light lenses. A lot of people believe that blue light, a type of light that emits from our device screens, is the culprit at the root of digital eye strain. This is, in fact, not necessarily true. Blue light does emit from our screens, however we experience more blue light from simple sunlight.

However, this doesn’t mean blue light lenses aren’t useful. According to studies found at the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center, using digital screens at night could affect our natural sleep patterns because our bodies associate blue light with day time. Blue light blocking lenses can help your eyes, and body, maintain a natural sleep pattern.

Find Your Relief Today!

When it comes to your eyes, it’s best to talk to your optometrist first before committing to a treatment plan.

Please book an appointment with us today, so we can help you get relief from your digital eye strain symptoms.

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Visit Our Practice & See For Yourself

Nestled only a few blocks away from the Halifax Waterfront, Ocean Optometry is located just off the corner of Blowers Street and Grafton Street, the world famous Pizza Corner. Find out more here about where to park!

Address

5240 Blowers Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1J7

Contact Information

Phone: 902.446.4470
Fax: 902.702.2505
Email: [email protected]

Hours Of Operation

Monday

9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday

9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday

9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Friday

9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday

10:00am – 4:00pm

Sunday

Closed

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“Friendly, professional, and quick! Their customer service and willingness to help can’t be beat. I’m happy to ‘belong’ to this office- they know my name as soon as I walk in the door. Can’t get that many other places!”

– Danielle I

“If you are looking for fabulous glasses, which are a bit more stylish than the average offerings, Ocean is the place to go.”

– Sarah Lowry

“Thanks for the wonderful experience. You guys really get eyecare!”

– Pritesh Patel

“Very informative and kind staff. Dr. John Wilson was so friendly and went through all the imaging and testing in great detail! I will continue to come here on a regular basis for eye care.”

– Hailey Nickerson

“Always a great experience. Eye exams are thorough; both optometrists have been pleasant, professional, and very knowledgeable. Great selection of unique, quality frames. All staff have always been beyond helpful!”

– M Duff

“If you want a first-class eye examination from people who love what they do, alongside a unique look in your glasses and great vision, then Ocean Optometry is the only place to go.”

– Lee

“Saw Dr. McGinty today for a same-day appointment due to getting something in my eyes over the weekend. The staff was incredible; Dr. McGinty was knowledgeable and personable. Didn’t have to wait and got right in and was in and out in 15 minutes without feeling rushed. Their staff was delightful and overall great experience. Will consider switching here for all my eye needs.”