Ask HN: How do you deal with eye strain as a developer?
I've been dealing with eye strain in my left eye lately, and it's really impacting my quality of life. I can barely get through my workday, and afterwards I have to avoid screens completely. No TV, no gaming, no reading. It's frustrating feeling so limited. Has anyone else experienced something similar? I'd love to hear what helped you.
12 comments
This is potentially not going to be the advise you want to hear. As I got older, I noticed eye strain more and more, up to the point that I also eliminated screen time after work for some time.
There are things that help - regular breaks, being in a well lit room, sitting at a healthy distance from the monitor, using redshift and lowering monitor brightness.
But ultimately, I came to the conclusion that for my eye health (and general physical health) I probably can’t be staring at screens for hours after work, when it’s already 8-9 hours of my workday.
Now after work I avoid screens entirely until about 9pm, then I have about an hour of gaming or watching TV, and then wind down with a book before bed.
I switched to this routine about 4-5 years ago, around when I turned 30. Seems to work well so far.
There are things that help - regular breaks, being in a well lit room, sitting at a healthy distance from the monitor, using redshift and lowering monitor brightness.
But ultimately, I came to the conclusion that for my eye health (and general physical health) I probably can’t be staring at screens for hours after work, when it’s already 8-9 hours of my workday.
Now after work I avoid screens entirely until about 9pm, then I have about an hour of gaming or watching TV, and then wind down with a book before bed.
I switched to this routine about 4-5 years ago, around when I turned 30. Seems to work well so far.
Man when you said "as I got older" I thought you meant like 50+
I do agree with your parts to help, being an well lit room is a big one. One aspect that helps me as well is making sure I get enough sleep. I find I squint more at the screen later in the day the worse my sleep has been.
I do agree with your parts to help, being an well lit room is a big one. One aspect that helps me as well is making sure I get enough sleep. I find I squint more at the screen later in the day the worse my sleep has been.
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Yeah I might have to accept that it is what it is. It is hard though.
A move to more of a management/leadership role.
I've actually developed an eye condition — one of my doctors suspects it might be PDS (pigment dispersion syndrome) that affects my ability to focus on computer text for too long (I get headaches) which they found unusual, so after realizing I can't keep up, I turned to mentoring and leading instead.
I've actually developed an eye condition — one of my doctors suspects it might be PDS (pigment dispersion syndrome) that affects my ability to focus on computer text for too long (I get headaches) which they found unusual, so after realizing I can't keep up, I turned to mentoring and leading instead.
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I moisturize my eyes with Optive drops, have special computer glasses with a lens designed for the distance of my screen, and take frequent eye breaks every 15 minutes.
My eyes are otherwise healthy but I'm of a certain age (mid 40s) where eyes start degrading.
My eyes are otherwise healthy but I'm of a certain age (mid 40s) where eyes start degrading.
Thanks. That sounds like a similar situation to me. I am mid 50s.
The only thing that helped me was to take regular breaks from looking at a screen. My daily habit now is that, at least once per hour, I get up and take a walk around the block.
This hugely improved my eye strain problem as well as a few other physiological oddities. Actually going outside seems to be a critical part of this. Just strolling around the office doesn't have the benefits.
This hugely improved my eye strain problem as well as a few other physiological oddities. Actually going outside seems to be a critical part of this. Just strolling around the office doesn't have the benefits.
Your employer is legally obligated to provide you with an eye test - https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/eye-tests.htm
I suggest starting with a visit to an optician and see what they say.
I suggest starting with a visit to an optician and see what they say.
Have you visited an optician? You don't say. Otherwise that must be step one.
Yep I have seen an optician and an eye doctor. And I did a head/eye scan as well. Apparently my eye is otherwise perfectly fine and healthy.