Get relief from digital eye strain: What to ask your optician.

If you experience blurry vision, dry and tired eyes, headaches, neck and shoulder pain after spending extended periods on your computer, tablet or smartphone, you might face digital eye strain (DES) – also known as CVS – computer vision syndrome.¹

Regular breaks, good digital habits, and the right workspace setup can all help, but if symptoms persist, the underlying issue might be an even more basic one: uncorrected or wrongly corrected vision problems – which can increase the severity of digital eye strain symptoms.¹ When you don’t wear vision correction but need some, wearing lenses with an outdated prescription, not tailored to your lifestyle, or a frame that doesn’t sit right, your eyes may not be set up correctly to keep up with your digital life.

But there is good news: A comprehensive eye exam with your eye care professional can diagnose digital eye strain and help you take the right steps to address it.¹ 

If you're heading to the optician, going in with the right questions makes it easier to address your visual demands linked to your eyes and lifestyle. And, with expert advice, you can find tailored vision solutions to help get relief from digital eye strain.

• Your symptoms
  Be aware of the symptoms that emerge with long screen time. Do they occur at the end of the day, during excessive near work on your phone or tablet, or after watching TV? Do they fade after you stop engaging with screens or do they persist?
  
  
• Your daily screen habits and lifestyle
  Roughly how many hours do you spend on your phone, laptop, TV, or monitor a day? Are you using mostly your phone, computer or tablet – or all of the above? Different screens have different viewing distances and therefore different demands on your eyes. Do you usually work with a screen, and if so, do you sit at a set distance from it?
  
  
• Your environment
  Is your desk lit by natural light, a lamp, or mostly the screen itself? Is there a window behind you that creates glare? Does your setup allow for an ergonomic body posture while working?
  
  
• What you’ve tried so far
  Have you created a good “screen environment” at work, do you take breaks from the screens, pay attention to good body posture or wear glasses of any kind?
  
  
• Your last eye exam and lens consultation
  Do you perhaps require vision correction? Are your current lenses up to date? Regular eye exams help to detect vision problems at an early stage and tailor your vision solution to your current prescription and lifestyle needs.
  Don’t want to wait? Pre-test your vision online with ZEISS Online Vision Screening.

Having this information ready can help your optician connect the dots and suggest tailored solutions.

Are my symptoms linked to digital eye strain?
Sometimes, it’s not obvious what’s causing discomfort. This question helps your optician explain whether your headaches, dry eyes , or blurred vision are directly tied to digital habits, or if something else might be playing a role.

Do I need extra vision support?
With the advancement of age, eyes become more prone to develop dry eye and presbyopia, an age-related difficulty to focus on near objects ^2,4. So if you have maturing eyes, pay closer attention to the source of your eye discomfort, along with your screen habits.

Could dry eyes be making my eyes feel worse?
Digital device usage can lower your blink rate⁵, which can lead to dry eyes, a symptom associated with digital eye strain¹. An eye care professional can help you identify whether your eyes need additional support, for example tear-replacing eye drops.

How should my glasses match the way I use devices?
Not all screen habits are the same. Some people mostly scroll on phones; others spend long hours on wide monitors. Sharing your typical device mix helps your optician match you with lenses designed to support those specific distances.

Which lens is right for me?
To answer this question, a comprehensive eye examination and lens consultation is needed. Findings about your eyes, lifestyle, age, and digital eye strain symptoms will help your optician determine the right lens for you.

For example, if you’re in your 30s or 40s, your optician might recommend ZEISS Digital SmartLife lenses. These anti-fatigue lenses support your eyes when switching between near digital devices and the far distance all day long.

For many, one all-day pair of lenses may be enough. In some situations, especially when screen use stretches out over long periods, an optician may suggest a dedicated pair of computer glasses as an additional option to everyday glasses.

How long will it take to adjust to new lenses?
Concerned about vision problems despite a new pair of glasses? The adjustment period for new lenses can differ from one individual to another. This transition is normal and can be affected by several factors. Your optician can provide insights into what this process might entail for you and what you can anticipate.

What’s the follow-up process if I’m still uncomfortable?
This can give you peace of mind – support will be available after getting new glasses. Your optician can set a review point to check whether the lenses are doing their job.

How often should my treatment be reviewed?
Our eyes and habits change as time goes on, so it’s always advisable to have a roadmap of regular checks ahead of time to make sure you’ll always have the best options for your eyes and lifestyle.

What else can I do besides wearing glasses?
Finding relief from digital eye strain isn’t always about lenses. Your optician can give tips on posture, screen positioning, lighting, and breaks to reduce the risk of eye strain alongside new glasses.