Most Americans WFH suffer from tech fatigue induced eye-strain during pandemic, survey finds

Working from home may have been the safest option for many Americans during the pandemic — but it has also taken a toll on their bodies, and especially their eyes.  

A new survey of 2,000 general population Americans has discovered two in three respondents have suffered physical pain since they began working from home last year, and the average person wakes up with a headache or eye pain seven times per month.

Survey says.

With or without pain, 48% of respondents have started working in a hybrid setting — spending half of their time in the office and the other half working from home. 

In a survey conducted by GlassesUSA.com, the world’s fastest growing and leading online glasses retailer, in collaboration with OnePoll, the study found 67% have experienced tech fatigue as a result of working from home — feeling physically tired and stressed by technology use.

Out of every area of the body, the eyes feel the most stress (26%). Other commonly stressed out body parts include the head (15%), shoulders (14%) and legs (13%).

For 68% of remote workers, stress and their at-home environment have made their primary senses more sensitive than before. 45% of those that described their senses as being more sensitive said their eyesight has especially been affected, with 63% saying their eyes have been constantly bothering them in the last year.

Dealing with it.

“There’s been  an increase in both search and demand for blue light blocking lenses as the pandemic progressed,” said GlassesUSA.com CEO Daniel Rothman. “Screen time has drastically increased, as it has become our main, and sometimes only means of social interaction as well as work. In surveys we’ve conducted during the last 18 months among our customers, people using glasses with blue light blocking lenses report fewer headaches, improved sleep and less digital eye-strain.”

As online shopping becomes more prevalent since COVID entered our vocabulary, online retailers can more easily highlight their significant advantages over traditional brick-and-mortar eyewear stores, such as more affordable prices, a much bigger selection of frames and brands, fast & free delivery, and 24/7 customer support. 

For example, GlassesUSA.com offers blue light blocking lenses with all of its eyeglass frames (over 5,000) including designer brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley, with and without prescription, providing an unrivaled variety for those working from home. 

It also provides a risk-free shipping experience, including a virtual try-on so people can see how the frames look on them before purchasing. For those who can’t quite decide on the frame they want, there’s a quiz to help find the perfect pair. And if someone wants Rx glasses and can’t find their prescription, there’s a free Prescription Scanner app to get the details off their current glasses without leaving home.

Taking better care.

Back to eye pain and stress – unsurprisingly, screens have also played a role in the increase of both. The average American spends 27 hours in front of a screen per week, causing 46% to turn off their screens at certain times of the day to prevent eye strain.

People usually turn off their screens in the evening, and 30% of respondents who do so log off from 4:01 p.m. to 8 p.m. Another 32% do so between 8:01 p.m. and midnight.

Seventy-two percent of remote workers said going back to working in-person is the motivation they need to start taking better care of themselves. Since working from home, 57% have given up their exercise routines, carrying their stress with them throughout the day.

“A well-balanced diet, and low-impact exercise are crucial to our overall health and ocular wellness. Maintaining personal hygiene and washing hands frequently can help to prevent us from spreading viruses to our eyes,” revealed GlassesUSA.com eye-health expert Sandra Young, OD.

“Because of increased screen time demands, it is important to take regular breaks from looking at screens, reduce fatigue by looking out of the window or at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. It is also recommended to use blue light blocking glasses to help filter the harmful rays emitted from our digital devices.”

Find your frame in
60 seconds.

Need help looking for your perfect pair?
Take our quiz to find the best fit for you.
Take the Quiz