Your eyes are tired — the 20-20-20 rule can fix that

If you've ever ended the day with dry, scratchy eyes and a dull ache behind them, you're not alone — and it's probably not your prescription. It's digital eye strain: hours of close-up focus keep the tiny muscles inside your eyes locked in one position, like holding your arms out in front of you all day long. Here's the fix, and it's almost embarrassingly simple. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. That's the 20-20-20 rule, developed by optometrist Dr. Jeffrey Anshel and recommended by both the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Twenty seconds is roughly all it takes for your focusing muscles to fully relax. Pair it with a deliberate blink — we blink far less when staring at screens — and you've built a habit that takes seconds and genuinely helps. The hard part is remembering. Anchor it to something you already do: every time you take a sip of water, glance out the window instead of at your phone. Your eyes will thank you by quitting time. Sources: American Optometric Association / American Academy of Ophthalmology via SightConnection — https://www.sightconnection.org/preventing-eye-strain-with-20-20-20-vision-rule/ ; Associations Now — https://associationsnow.com/2023/08/american-optometric-association-creates-mobile-game-to-promote-eye-health/