Nowadays, most of us spend a good chunk of our time staring at screens. Whether it's a computer monitor, a smartphone, the television, or even a smartwatch, our eyes are constantly getting put to work by all these screens. Too much of one thing is never good, and this definitely applies to looking at screens.
Prolonged exposure to screens can result in eye fatigue, headaches, blurred vision or dry eyes. I have experienced this myself, especially since I work on the computer during my day job, and I usually end up staring at more screens at night: whether it be playing video games, watching some Netflix, or even working on my apps.
This is where my new app, Iris: 20-20-20 Rule Eye Strain Assistant & Helper, comes in. Since I've been experiencing minor headaches and eye fatigue due to too much screen time, I made it a point to try and follow the 20-20-20 rule. It's a popular guideline often recommended by eye doctors for reducing eye strain and it goes something like this:
Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break to look at something at least 20 feet away.
The Iris: 20-20-20 app helps you achieve this. Once the app is switched on, it will remind you to take a break every 20 minutes. When it's time for a break, you then open the app, and tap on the timer to start a 20-second countdown. This is when you look at something that's at least 20 feet away while holding your device; because when the 20-second timer is complete, it will vibrate, signaling you that your break is over. Rinse and repeat throughout the day (and night). It's that simple.
I hope that you'll find this app as useful as I (and our beta testers) have! It's incredibly efficient and it has really made a difference in my daily workflow. Note that you can always get up and move around during your 2o-second break. It's up to you what you do as long as you give your eyes a chance to look at something at a distance (20 feet or farther). I hope you'll give Iris: 20-20-20 a try - your eyes will thank you for it!