When you stare at a screen, your blink rate drops by about 66%. Instead of blinking 15-20 times per minute, you blink only 5-7 times. Each blink spreads a fresh layer of tears across your eyes. Fewer blinks means your tear film evaporates faster than it's replenished.
The result: that gritty, burning, sandy sensation. Your eyes get red. Vision blurs. You reach for eye drops that only provide temporary relief.
Computer Vision Syndrome affects up to 90% of people who work at screens. Dry eye is one of the most common symptoms, and it gets worse the longer you go without breaks.
What Makes It Worse
Air conditioning — Dry air evaporates tears faster
Fans or vents — Airflow directly on face worsens dryness
Low humidity — Winter heating and summer AC both reduce humidity
Contact lenses — Add another layer that needs moisture
Screen position — Looking up exposes more eye surface
Caffeine — Dehydrates and can reduce tear production
How Breaks Help
Regular breaks directly address the cause of screen-related dry eye:
Looking away from the screen restores normal blink rate
Closing your eyes for 20 seconds lets tears redistribute
Looking at distant objects relaxes the focusing muscles
Break time is perfect for applying eye drops
Getting water during breaks helps overall hydration
The 20-20-20 Rule
Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple habit:
Resets your blink rate
Relaxes eye muscles
Allows tear film to restore
Prevents cumulative dryness
A break reminder makes following this rule automatic instead of something you have to remember.