WE ARE NOW AVAILBLE ON SHOPEE! 
Let’s be honest. We are all guilty of spending too much time on our phones and we know that it comes with adverse effects. These symptoms include dryness of eyes, blurry vision, eye irritation, headache and tearing (1).
Here are some tips that will help you to take better care of your eyes:
1. Remove Unimportant Notifications
Excessive lighting from the screen can cause eyestrain. Using your phone on applications like Facebook, Instagram and games will only increase your screen time. Simply turn off notifications that are not important. You can always check back on the notifications whenever you have free time but limit the screen time to only 20 minutes.
2. Keep Track of How Much Time You Spend on Screen
Some of us like to keep a journal be it on our phone or on physical notes to keep track of what we are doing. There are some applications that allow you to know how much screen time you have spent in a day. It is difficult to manage your screen time unless you start measuring it. For a start, try to cut down screen activities like watching videos and browsing social media.
3. Correctly Position Your Screen
To reduce eyestrain, ensure that your eyes are 20 to 24 inches away from the screen. Always ensure that the screen is about 4 to 8 inches lower than your eye level.
4. Remind Yourself to Blink More
Did you realise that when you are using your computer or phone, whether to check email, play games or to browse social media, you tend to blink less than normal? It is because your eyes are focusing on the screen. At this moment, the tears that coat around your eyes will evaporate quickly, causing the eyes to dry out. Hence, blinking frequently will help to moisten your eyes and prevent dryness and irritation (1).
5. Eat Healthy and Consume Supplements for Better Eye Health
A healthy diet is important for your eye health. Foods that are good for our eyes include salmon, tuna, spinach, kale, eggs, nuts, and oranges which can be found in our daily meals.
People tend to reach out for supplements when they are not being able to fulfil the nutrients needed for their eyes. As important as eating a healthy diet, it is important to choose supplements that fulfil the needs of our eyes. When selecting an eye supplement, look for the following nutrients:
The omega-3s fatty acid has been found to be able to reduce the dryness of the eyes. The primary source of omega-3s is fish oils which is abundant in some fishes such as salmon and mackerel.
Vitamin C can decrease the risk of cataracts in our eyes and this vitamin can be found in berries, tomatoes, and oranges.
Beta-carotene is known for its antioxidant properties which help with moisturizing of the eyes and keeping the area around the cornea healthy. This red-orange pigment can be found in carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes.
References:
1. Elliott, D. (2007). Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care. In Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-8896-3.X5001-9
