For many British workers, the commute may have changed, but the working day has become no less screen-heavy.
A survey conducted on 2,011 British adults commissioned by Obsurvant in June 2025 found that UK adults spend an average of eight hours a day looking at screens for work alone. The report also found that one in five adults exceeds a daily screen work of 11 hours. Nearly half of the participants reported regular eye strain. According to the study, visual fatigue was estimated to cost affected workers around 40 minutes of daily productivity.
The figures point to a growing problem for hybrid workers as offices now extend from workplace desktops to home laptops and smartphones. Discomfort with eyes may be easy to dismiss as an unavoidable consequence of modern work. However, prolonged screen use can also affect concentration, comfort, and working habits.
Health experts often describe this cluster of symptoms as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome. The symptoms include dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision and difficulty focusing after extended periods of close work.
Why screens can leave eyes feeling dry and tired
One reason lies in the way people blink while concentrating on a screen.
Research published through the National Institutes of Health’s medical literature has found that digital screen tasks can substantially reduce blinking. NIH also quotes an earlier study from 1993 that found blink rates could fall from around 22 blinks per minute in a relaxed state to 7 while reading text on digital screens. Reduced and incomplete blinking allows more evaporation from the tear film, which results in dryness and discomfort.
There is also the effort involved in sustained close focus. The Association of Optometrists says that working continuously on a computer, tablet or smartphone keeps the eye muscles active and may contribute to tiredness and headaches.
The effects are generally temporary, but that does not make them irrelevant to employers. The Health and Safety Executive states that long periods of display screen equipment work can lead to tired eyes, discomfort, temporary short-sightedness and headaches.
What UK workers are entitled to
Screen fatigue is not simply a matter of personal wellbeing. UK workplace rules place responsibilities on employers where staff qualify as display screen equipment users.
The Health and Safety Executive says employers must assess relevant workstations, reduce risks, provide information and training. Employers should also arrange an eyesight test when a DSE (display screen equipment) user requests one. The rules can apply to people working at home permanently or those splitting their time between home and the workplace.
If an eye test shows that a worker needs special glasses specifically for display screen work, employers must provide them. However, they do not generally have to fund prescription glasses that are also suitable for screen use.
Five ways workers can reduce screen fatigue
1. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: The Association of Optometrists advises DSE workers to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This gives the eyes a break from sustained close focusing. Additionally, consciously blinking can also help reduce dryness.
2. Consider appropriate lens options: Optical specialists at Manchester-based eyewear brand Specscart say factors such as reflections and visual contrast can form part of discussions about anti-reflective and blue light coatings. The suitability of any lens treatment, however, depends on an individual’s visual needs and working environment.
3. Check the screen position: HSE guidance recommends positioning a screen roughly an arm’s length away, with the top of the display around eye level. The official guidance on DSE workstation design also reaches the conclusion that typical viewing distances should be around 50 to 60 centimetres.
4. Address lighting and glare: A bright screen in a dark room or reflections from windows and overhead lights can make viewing less comfortable. HSE guidance advises employers and workers to consider lighting and reflections as part of a suitable workstation setup.
5. Take regular short breaks: HSE says short breaks taken frequently are preferable to longer, less frequent ones, giving the example of five to 10 minutes every hour rather than 20 minutes every two hours. Breaks can involve changing activity rather than simply remaining seated and switching to another screen.
For workers who experience persistent discomfort, an eye examination may identify whether prescription glasses for screen work are needed for the viewing distance involved.
Hybrid working has made screens a fixed part of many British jobs. That makes proactive eye care less a lifestyle extra than a practical part of managing modern work. Employers have defined responsibilities. Simultaneously, workers can make relatively simple adjustments to their routines and workstations. As the boundary between home and office continues to blur, the strain placed on the eyes is becoming harder to ignore.
