By Sandra Guy

People hunkered down at home to keep others safe from the coronavirus pandemic should beware spending every moment in front of their handheld, laptop or computer screen, experts warn.

The pandemic’s global death toll, which surpassed 20,000 on March 25, makes this, the designated “Workplace Eye Wellness Month,” uniquely prescient.

Indeed, optometrists are finding that young people, and even children, are at risk for dry eye disease, partly because they’re spending so many hours staring at a computer screen or hand-held device.

Other tell-tale signs include getting blurry-eyed when sitting in harsh fluorescent lighting and feeling a burning sensation in your eyes after sitting in front of a bright computer screen.

One of the underlying causes is a considerable reduction in how often we blink our eyes.

When we stare at screens — whether those screens are on smartphones, laptops or desktop computers — we blink less often, experts say.

Healthy people blink 10 to 15 times each minute, compared with those staring at a computer screen, whose rate plunges by 60 percent, according to research published in the journal Survey of Ophthalmology.

Blinking matters because each blink renews tear film, a microscopic layer that protects and moisturizes the eyes.

Dr. Brian Hollett, MD, a physician at Chicago-based SHIFT https://shiftlife.com/ offers these tips for working well – and healthfully – from home.

SHIFT uses a membership model to deliver expert primary care medicine alongside a team of nutrition, fitness and recovery experts. The concierge service’s aim is to help people take control of their health, find purpose, and realize their full potential to live a happier, healthier, and more productive life.

• Set up a workspace that eliminates glare on your computer screen. If possible, limit exterior light by closing drapes, shades or blinds, and position your computer screen so windows are to the side, instead of directly in front or behind your screen.

• To prevent or alleviate eye strain from prolonged screen time, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to focus on something at least 20 feet away.

This allows relaxation of the small ciliary muscles in the eye. These are the eye muscles keeping the lens in tension to maintain focus when looking at your screen.

• Every 40 to 60 minutes, stand up from your desk and move around a bit. In that time, do some squats, lunges, upper body stretches, or shoulder rolls.