People look at a lot of screens every day. Their phones, their computers, their TVs, and more.

Recent research from Dr. Sandra Lora Cremers suggests that all this screen time is in fact hurting people’s eyes and causing potentially painful and life-altering consequences.

In recognition of Eye Injury Prevention Month in October and World Sight Day on October 14, we’ve rounded up some of the top eye health tips from HealthTap’s network of 90,000+ doctors.

What should I do to take care of my eyes if I look at screens a lot?

“Computer use is not harmful but can be drying, causing many different symptoms including: dryness, blur, headaches, irritation, light sensitivity. Try putting a bottle of lubricating drops next to the place where you do this work — and use as often as needed (don't use drops that say ‘gets the red out’).”

– Dr. Richard Bensinger (52 years of experience in ophthalmology)

What can I do to keep my eyes healthy if I spend a lot of time reading on screens?

“Take a lot of breaks…. While not dangerous to the eyes, strain and dry eyes can be frustrating. Be sure to take a break every 15 to 30 minutes to stare out at a distance, use artificial tears if your eyes feel dry, and try changing what you are doing whenever possible (switch from the computer to a textbook every so often) to change your focus.” 

– Dr. Andrew Shatz (26 years experience in ophthalmology)

Will blue light glasses help?

“Maybe. But the best thing to do is avoid a lot of screen time before bed. Blue light-blocking glasses aren't going to reverse the effects of all that screen time on your peepers. But they might help you fall asleep faster in some circumstances.”

- Dr. Robert Kneece (internal medicine & pediatrics) 

What everyday habits can help me keep my eyes healthy?

“Watch your diet and blood pressure, eat many high antioxidant vegetables and fruits, and take some eye vitamins to help out. Protect your eyes from UV rays. Exercise to keep your circulation going. Rest well too, and protect your eyes from any possible trauma too.” 

– Dr. Jan Lei Iwata (26 years of experience in ophthalmology)

How does your diet affect eye health?

“Diet is important. There has been much research done that shows your diet is directly related to your eye health. High-fat diets have been linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Smoking is also a risk factor for AMD. Certain nutrients have been shown to be helpful in patients with AMD. You should consult with a retina specialist to determine if you should be taking certain eye vitamins.” 

– Dr. Michael Davis (17 years of experience in ophthalmology)

What is a good diet for maintaining eye health?

“A normal balanced diet. The eye is very good at extracting what it needs from the bloodstream. If you have a reasonable, balanced diet, then your eyes will find what they need. To help your eyes, see an ophthalmologist on a regular basis to make sure there are no problems.” 

– Dr. Richard Bensinger (52 years of experience in ophthalmology)

Should I take vitamins for my eyes?

“It depends. If one has a ‘normal’ diet, vitamin supplementation has not conclusively been shown to improve eye health. With certain vitamin deficiencies, such as vitamin A, etc., supplementation would be helpful. The only vitamins shown to have beneficial effects are the so called ‘AREDS’ vitamins. These have been shown to slow macular degeneration in susceptible patients and may be prescribed by your doctor.*” 

– Dr. Tal Raviv (26 years experience in ophthalmology)

*HealthTap subscribers can save up to 75% on prescription medication.

What causes dry eyes?

“Age, hormone changes, dry air (environment), meibomian gland dysfunction (clogged oil glands that make lubricant for the eye), concentrating, vitamin A deficiency, topical drops and preservatives in them, systemic medications, low blink rate, abnormalities of the lid, contact lens wearing, and allergies!” 

– Dr. Michael Ham (27 years experience in ophthalmology)

Can eye strain or dry eyes cause your eyes to get red? 

“Red eyes are just a sign of irritation. It is very non-specific and can be caused by numerous etiologies including eye strain. Eye strain leads to dry eyes, which could then cause red eyes. You should see an eye doctor for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.” 

– Dr. George Yang (27 years of experience in ophthalmology)

Why do I wake up with eye goop/crust in the morning? 

“All night long, our closed eyes provide a warm, dark, moist environment for bacteria to grow, and there can be a constant battle between these bacteria and our natural defenses. The ‘goop’ you see is the product of that all-night battle, and some people tend to get more goop than others. There are some conditions, like blepharitis (eyelid inflammation) that tend to produce more of this discharge.” 

– Dr. Joseph Fishkin (23 years in ophthalmology)

“Without knowing, a lot of us have little Demodex mites on our eyelashes. Studies indicate these mites live in the meibomian glands, which produce meibum, the key oily component for the tear film for our eyes. These mites can cause the gland to scar. Many of us in the morning have some crusting on the eyes. We really should not have this morning crusting around our eyes. If we do, there's a combination of bacteria, these mites, dead cells. It is important to clean morning crusting off as well as wash your face and apply warm compresses to the eyelids twice a day (ideally 15 minutes of heat) to keep the meibomian glands pumping and healthy. If this crusting continuously happens, or you have any recurrent eye burning, redness, irritation, foreign body sensation, dryness, or chronic tearing, do not ignore it: consult an eye doctor and get a meibography. I also recommend a yearly meibography for anyone on electronic screens more than 4 hours a day, especially children.” 

– Dr. Sandra Lora Cremers (25 years of experience in ophthalmology)

How bad is it to keep wearing old contact lenses?

“Keep on schedule: Contacts are designed to last for certain intervals of time which will be told to you by the ophthalmologist who fit them for you. This relates to the time to accumulate substances which will affect clarity, change comfort or culture organisms. There is some flexibility beyond manufacturer recommendations related to environment and your tear cleaning ability. Best to keep on schedule.” 

– Dr. Richard Bensinger (52 years of experience in ophthalmology)

Have a question about eye health that wasn’t answered here?

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Remember — the best care comes from a doctor who knows and gets you. Your HealthTap primary care doctor may be able to connect an eye issue you’re having to other factors associated with your health, environment, or lifestyle. 

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