Many people worry that looking at a screen, such as a computer, tablet or mobile phone, may damage their eyes. There is no evidence that looking at screens will cause your eyes any harm. Looking at something on a screen has advantages over looking at something on paper. With a screen you can alter the contrast, and you can make the print bigger. However, you need to make sure that the reflections from the screen do not get in the way of what you are looking at.
Some people find that looking at a screen for a long time is tiring. To give your eyes a rest, we recommend the 20:20:20 rule. This means that every 20 minutes you should look at something about 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. Although this is only a guide, it does remind you to take regular (short) breaks from the screen.
Looking at a screen for a long time can be quite demanding for your eyes. You may find that you need to wear glasses for screen use, even if you don’t need them for regular use. Your optometrist will be able to advise you on this.
Last updated: February 2026
