Last Updated: 17 Feb 2021 Views: 985 (After reading, tell us below if this answer was helpful)

What can I do to help prevent eyestrain when reading on screen and using e-resources?


Many of us are spending long periods of time reading and working on screen, whether this is on a PC, tablet, phone or a combination of screens.  This can lead to eyestrain and difficulties focusing and absorbing information.  

There are a number of ways you can  prevent and reduce eyestrain, enabling you to make the most of your screen time in a way that works for you. 

 

1: Use e-book accessibility features 

For advice on changing text size, background colour, font colour, or trying out read aloud functions, check out our guidance on each specific e-book platform. For more general guidance on how to use e-books, including common issues and support, have a look at our How to use e-books page. 

 

2: Adjust your PC screen shade and contrast 

Adjusting your screen shade and contrast can make a big difference in how comfortable the screen is to look at.  This short video (Dys Boxing Assistive Tech Reviews) explains how you can do this, using a few different methods. 

You may also find the following short guide helpful: How do I change the colour and contrast when reading e-books on a computer, tablet or phone? 

 

3: Filter out blue light on your screen 

You can use the Night Shift option which filters out blue light if you own a recent iPhone or iPad or Mac. If you have a Windows device the option is called Night Light. 

 

4: Use free assistive software to help with reading and eyestrain prevention  

Using text to speech software allows you to listen to text rather than look at the screen when reading, which can help prevent eye strain. For example, both Natural Reader and Voice Aloud Reader are free apps that convert text into speech, with a choice of voices and reading speeds. 

Try the apps out below, listed based on the device you’re working on: 
 

 

5: Use assistive software available on all campus PCs

If you’re on campus, the university has ClaroRead and TextHelp Read & Write software available on all networked PCs.  Both are effective text to speech software which can help reduce eye strain from screen use.  They both have the following features: 

 

Reads text aloud, helping you absorb information through listening instead of reading on screen. This allows you to take breaks from looking at the screen or to use for longer periods of time. 

 

Allows you to adjust how fast text is read aloud, so you can choose to increase or reduce the reading speed to a pace that works for you. You can also choose from a variety of voices and accents. 

 

Screen rulers or underlining to keep you focused on the part of the screen you’re reading, reducing time spent re-reading sections if you lose concentration or tend to lose your place. Using the screen ruler also helps to block out the glare from the rest of the screen. 

 

Screen tinting, allowing you to choose a coloured overlay for your screen.  This can help improve your reading experience if reading for too long on screen or viewing black text on a white background causes you eye strain.  

 

At the moment you can access this software remotely if you’re not able to get to a computer cluster.  Instructions for accessing the clusters remotely are available on our IT Services webpage.  Once you’ve accessed a cluster PC remotely, enter the name of the software you would like to use (e.g. Read & Write) in the search box on the remote PC. 

 

6: Take regular short screen breaks 

Prevent eye strain by using the 20-20-20 rule, especially if you’re using a computer for long periods of time. Look 20 feet in front of you, every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds.  

 

To help you keep track of time, you can use the Pomodoro time management technique.  This technique uses a timer to break down focused work or screen time into intervals, separated by short breaks.   A useful app called Tomato timers can help you ensure you’re taking regular screen breaks, by reminding you every 20 minutes, helping to reduce or prevent eye strain while also keeping you focused.   

 

7: Use simple room lighting changes 

Sometimes environmental factors can increase your risk of eyestrain. You can try some adjustments to mitigate these risks. Eyestrain may be less of a problem if you’re reading in a bright room. You can also try positioning your phone, tablet, or dedicated e-reader to avoid a glare on the screen from the lighting. 

 

8: Find out more about e-book accessibility 

For more information on e-book accessibility, read our personal review from a library colleagues' perspective,  How can I find out more about e-book accessibility features to reduce eyestrain? 
 

Reference:  

Dys Boxing Assistive Tech Reviews available via The Codpast YouTube channel, Accessed on 27/11/2020, YouTube.   

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