These days most jobs involve looking at computer screens for long periods of time, which can leave eyes feeling sore and tired.
But an expert has revealed that there's a way to ease the eye fatigue and all you have to do is follow an important rule.
Nimmi Mistry, a professional services optician at Vision Direct, shared her top tips for eye health including the 20-20-20 rule everyone should be aware of.
Speaking to The Mirror, Nimmi explained: "Eye fatigue is another unfortunate side-effect many will suffer from when experiencing a time of high stress. This is particularly true of those that are suffering from work-related stressors when their jobs involve a lot of screen time.
"To help combat the symptoms of eye fatigue caused by screens and stress, it's recommended that people follow the 20-20-20 rule, particularly during the workday."
So what exactly is the 20-20-20 rule?
"The 20-20-20 rule involves taking screen breaks every 20 minutes to focus on a fixed point 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This exercise will relieve the stress on your eyes and can be easily integrated into your daily routine," the expert explains.
If you're someone who might forget to take these crucial breaks, Nimmi has some tips to help with this too.
She continued to say: "There are also browser extensions and apps that can be used to send reminders to take screen breaks.
"Although it may not be a convenient long-term habit you can adopt, during periods of high stress and eye fatigue it’s something that can remind you of the importance of breaks."
This comes after the expert explained why rubbing your eyes is actually bad for you and you should avoid doing it.
She said: "For some, an automatic response to tired, irritated eyes - especially while stressed - is to rub them to achieve temporary relief. However, this can lead to a whole host of other issues.
"A 2018 scientific study showed that Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus are present on the surfaces of computer keyboards and mobile phones, both of which can be transferred to the eye simply via touch and cause potential eye infections such as bacterial conjunctivitis.
"By rubbing your eyes, especially at your desk, you can transfer bacteria from the surface of your keyboard or phone to your eyes, increasing the risk of infection."
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear all about it. Email courtney.pochin@mirror.co.uk
