According to a 2016 AOA Eye-Q survey, the average American spends seven hours per day using digital devices. Extended exposure to blue light from smartphones, tablets and other screens, can cause vision damage, sleep problems, and headaches.

The AOA offers five steps to help relieve digital eye strain at work. They are:

1. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Take a 20-second break, every 20 minutes and view something 20 feet away.

2. Keep a distance. The AOA recommends sitting a comfortable distance from the computer monitor where you can easily read all text with your head and torso in an upright posture and your back supported by your chair. Generally, the preferred viewing distance is between 20 and 28 inches from the eye to the front surface of the screen.

3. View from a different angle. Ideally, the computer screen should be 15 to 20 degrees, or about 4 to 5 inches, below eye level as measured from the center of the screen.

4. Decrease glare. While there is no way to completely minimize glare from light sources, consider using a glare filter. These filters decrease the amount of light reflected from the screen.

5. Blink often. Minimize your chances of developing dry eyes when using a computer by making an effort to blink frequently.

Talk to your eye doctor about maintaining the comfort and health of your eyes when using screens!