A gritty feeling in the eyes, burning, heavy eyelids, vision that blurs and then clears when you blink: dry eye is one of the most common complaints of heavy screen users. The paradox: dry eyes can also… water, as a reflex. Here's what's going on, and how to avoid it.
Why screens dry out your eyes
- You blink less. At rest, we blink about 15 to 20 times a minute. Focused on a screen, that rate can drop by half or more, and many blinks become incomplete: the eyelid doesn't come all the way down.
- You open your eyes wide. A screen placed too high makes you look up: the surface of the eye exposed to the air increases.
- The air is dry. Heating, air conditioning, a desk fan: tears evaporate faster.
- Other factors weigh in: contact lenses, age (especially after the menopause), certain medications, screens until late in the evening.
The habits that bring relief
1. Blink on purpose
Every 20 minutes, close your eyes completely for two seconds, then blink slowly five times. It sounds silly, and it's the most effective habit. Combine it with the 20-20-20 rule: 20 seconds looking into the distance.
2. Lower the screen
The top of the screen at eye level or slightly below: when you look slightly downwards, your eyelids cover more of the eye. All the details of setting up your workstation are in our workstation guide.
3. Humidify the air
Air the room, move the airflow from heating or air conditioning away from your face and, in winter, consider a humidifier. Drink regularly.
4. Preservative-free artificial tears
From the pharmacy, without a prescription: a few drops when the discomfort appears. Choose preservative-free formulas if you use them several times a day, and ask the pharmacist for advice.
5. A screen break in the evening
Eyes that have worked all day recover better with a real break before sleep. If the screen stays on, lower its brightness and dim the room.
Do glasses help?
A pair doesn't treat dry eye. But a frame provides a slight shield against draughts, and anti-reflective lenses reduce the effort caused by reflections, which can make long days more comfortable: MIDI or JADE for daytime. Blinking remains the real lever. And if you wear contact lenses, switching to glasses for a few hours a day often brings a lot of relief.
When to see a professional
Book an appointment with an ophthalmologist if:
- the discomfort lasts several weeks despite these habits;
- you have a red and painful eye, unusual sensitivity to light or a drop in vision;
- the dryness comes with other symptoms (dry mouth, joint pain).
Dry eye can be treated very well once it's identified — and no non-prescription pair replaces that diagnosis. For the other causes of fatigue in front of screens, read our 8 habits against eye strain.
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