Reading Glasses, Accessibility, and More: Reducing Eye Strain on Your iPad

With a larger screen than a smartphone and a lighter, more compact design than a laptop, iPads are the perfect companion for accomplishing several tasks even when you're on the go. However, while it can help boost your productivity, spending too much time in front of your iPad can also overwork your eyes, leading to digital eye strain.

Studies have shown the link between digital eye strain and long screen exposure, emphasizing the role of excessive digital device use in overworking the eyes. Eye strain is characterized by symptoms of visual discomfort, including dry eyes, headaches, and blurry vision.

When you use your iPad for long periods, you can increase your risk of developing visual fatigue. Luckily, there are various ways to reduce eye strain, from using reading glasses to activating some of your device’s useful features. Here’s what you can do:

Use reading glasses

Aside from the excessive use of your iPad, eye strain can also be caused by vision problems like nearsightedness or farsightedness. Pushing your eyes to work while experiencing these issues can lead to visual discomfort.

If you struggle with using devices up close, you can use bifocal reading glasses, which are designed to seamlessly transition between near and distant vision without the need to switch specs. These glasses come in different frame sizes, colors, and shapes.

Bifocals can work perfectly for iPads as these are designed to give focused vision on objects about 14 inches from the eyes, helping you maintain a safe, comfortable distance from your device while using it.

Personalize with accessibility features

You may also experience eye strain when using your iPad if your text display or keyboard is too small, which can force your eyes to focus harder on your screen. To avoid this, you can adjust the keyboard size and make it bigger by turning off the Portrait mode lock on your iPad and switching to landscape mode.

You can also install a third-party app like GIF Keyboard to replace your default keyboard with a customizable one that fits your preferences.

Adjusting the accessibility features on your device to enlarge text, increase contrast, and enable the built-in zoom feature can also ensure a more comfortable reading and working experience when you use your iPad.

Enable the Screen Distance feature

Did you know your iPad has a unique feature to reduce eye strain? When the iOS 17 was launched, it came with a handy screen distance feature that minimized the risks of visual fatigue and nearsightedness.

It works by using your iPad’s TrueDepth camera to measure the distance between your eyes and your device, and a warning will appear if you’re holding your iPad closer than 12 inches from your face.

The notification will only go away once your iPad is at a recommended distance. You can activate it by going to Settings, clicking Screen Time, and enabling the Screen Distance feature.

Moisturize your eyes

Using your iPad for extended periods can reduce blinking rates, causing dry eyes, a painful symptom of eye strain. To prevent this, you can use artificial tears that can replace your eyes' natural moisture and provide relief.

Studies show that hyaluronic-based commercial eye drops are effective in combating dry eyes, so you may want to check them out if you often experience eye strain while using your iPad. Frequently pausing to blink several times is another good practice that can help promote tear production and reduce visual fatigue caused by dry eyes.

Spending too much time on your iPad can lead to uncomfortable eye strain symptoms, highlighting the need for safe and proper device use. Following these useful tips can help you work, study, or play with your device without compromising your vision.