At the risk of sounding like an About.com article, we’d like to take a moment to acknowledge a growing problem for entrepreneurs, designers, developers and everyone else glued to a computer screen. Let’s talk about eye fatigue. Because our eyes are not adapted to staring at a fixed screen for hours on end, eye problems are becoming increasingly common, and range from mild to extremely severe— from slight aches to genuine strain. For a genuinely scientific look at this issue, head here. For solutions based on our own experiences, shift your tired eyes a few centimeters below.
F.lux
Also included in our story on tiny apps that boost productivity, F.lux tops this list for a good reason. Flux gives your eyes a break by simply warming up your display as the sun goes down.
Time Out
One of countless timer-based apps on the market, Time Out simply reminds you to look away from your screen at various intervals. Here’s our favorite setting: every 30 minutes take a 10-second break, and every hour take a two-minute break.
HiDPI
While this is a pricey suggestion, high-resolution screens (including those found on Retina MacBook Pros) display text at near print-quality. To put it bluntly: less blurry letters = happier eyes. It’s noteworthy that high-resolution displays are becoming increasingly more affordable.
Matte screen cover
While glossy screens benefit from sharp pixels and great color reproduction, certain environments lead to distracting glare that can tire your eyes. Obviously, matte screen covers partially solve to this problem.
De-clutter
The push for full-screen apps across devices (think: OS X and Windows 8) packs a benefit: less clutter is easy on the eyes. We’re big fans of apps like WriteRoom and Evernote in full-screen mode, because anything that makes it easier to focus equates to less work for your eyes. Apps like Focus for Mac take this a step further.
Heavier solutions
If you’re experiencing constant discomfort, give standard eye drops a try and consider stopping by your local optometrist. They’ll likely tell you the 20-20-20 rule. If you don’t mind giving off strong, geeky vibes, many swear by Gunnar Optiks — custom glasses engineered to ease strain.