Eye Health Tips Every Digital Nomad Should Consider

Most people travel for business or pleasure. For digital nomads, travel is always a mix of both,
allowing them to earn consistently while seeing some of the most beautiful destinations. As of
2024, digital nomadism has become such an attractive lifestyle that more than 17 million
Americans now identify themselves as this. The availability of digital nomad visas has further
fueled this trend. Unlike a few years ago, when digital nomads were mostly tech-savvy younger

Despite the changes in the digital nomad landscape, one thing remains constant. The eyes are still
at risk of being overworked. In fact, a post by coworking app Croissant notes that eye straining is
a common concern among digital nomads. If left unchecked, eye strain can worsen and cause
significant discomfort. In worst-case scenarios, the stress this causes can trigger more issues like
the build-up of interocular pressure and sleep disturbances. Either way, chronically tired eyes are
bound to have personal and professional repercussions. To prevent this and to ensure your eyes
are at their best throughout your entire journey as a digital nomad, here are some tips to keep in
mind.

Get your eyes regularly checked

Just because you don’t think your eyes are changing doesn’t mean that’s true. Many eye issues
are easy to overlook because they start off subtly, with symptoms only showing once the damage
has been done. As a digital nomad, you’re at a heightened risk for this happening since the eyes
are under hours of extensive use for work and play daily. To prevent any vision issues from going
unnoticed, go for eye tests regularly. With a trained professional, you can discover any
underlying issues, like progressive cataracts and glaucoma, and treat them as early as possible. At
the same time, if you already have a need for vision correction, going for regular exams ensures
your prescriptions are updated. Having up-to-date prescriptions is important as a traveler since
this will be useful should you need to make any eyecare purchases while abroad.

Wear blue light glasses

Pumble statistics from earlier this year revealed that up to a third of all digital nomads work more
than 40 hours weekly. Considering that the nature of digital nomadism has to do with online-
based jobs, this means extensive screen time. Since screens are known to emit blue light, this can
be risky for the eyes. Too much blue light exposure, whether from natural or artificial sources,
has been linked with potentially deregulating aspects such as sleep and moods and causing retinal
aging and degradation. The impact of blue light on the eyes has even been connected to digital
eye strain. To prevent this, try wearing blue light glasses. Since working on a screen involves a
lot of near distance work, using a pair with magnification can help further relieve eye strain.
Optical care provider Readers also highlights how blue light glasses can come with partially
magnified and multifocal variations, so you can still wear these as you transition from work to
play.

Use polarized sunglasses

One of the biggest perks of digital nomadism is that you’re not cooped in an indoor office.
Instead, you can work outside with the backdrop of tropical beaches or historical cities. That said,
being outside more does have its own dangers. For the eyes, this increases the chances of UV ray
penetration. This can cause many problems, ranging from corneal sunburn to the onset of
cataracts. If you’re working next to a reflective area, like the ocean, your eyes are also at risk of
painful glare. This is a harsh light that can cause intense discomfort, temporary blindness, and
even trigger headaches. So, if you’re working outdoors, take some polarized shades with you. As
you’ll see from major retailers like Oakley, these shades have a special lens coating that filters
out glare. Although polarized sunglasses are not ideal for use with LED screens, these are very
helpful during screen breaks. Since they can improve visual acuity and comfort, they can help
your eyes feel better rested and able to resume work. After work, this eye protection also means
you can better appreciate your surroundings and take in all the beautiful details.