Digital nomadism has provided unique opportunities to escape the typical nine-to-five work routine. By balancing career goals with a passion for adventure, digital nomads can explore exciting destinations without sacrificing productivity and professional growth. This is why it’s no surprise that 11% of workers identify themselves as digital nomads in the United States alone. After all, who wouldn’t love traveling or immersing yourself in diverse cultures while still earning enough to sustain your needs?

The flexibility of digital nomadism enables traveling workers to visit or stay in beautiful destinations with reliable internet speeds and relatively lower living costs, including UNESCO World Heritage sites like Chiang Mai in Thailand or cultural cities like Tbilisi in Georgia.

However, while many people are attracted to this lifestyle due to better work-life balance, it also presents unique challenges. Digital nomads may encounter eye health issues due to prolonged screen time and diverse lighting in different environments. In that case, here’s how you can take care of your eyes as a digital nomad:

Use proper sun protection

Digital nomads are likely to get exposed to the sun’s UV rays, especially when moving from one place to another or working outdoors. Overexposure to UV rays can cause photokeratitis and serious conditions like cataracts in the long run. If you’re traveling while working and need vision correction, make sure to invest in some prescription sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. Retailer Sunglass Hut allows consumers to add polarized lenses to sunglasses for enhanced visual acuity and offers frames and quality brands that are durable enough for frequent travel. Ensuring proper eye protection is crucial to avoiding vision problems that may arise with a digital nomad lifestyle.

Adjust your screen settings

Since digital nomads tend to clock in long hours of screen time for work, modifying your screen settings is essential to ensure visual comfort. Make sure you adjust your screen brightness to your desired strength – not too dim or bright so you can still read properly. You can also activate the blue light filter on your computer by opening the settings, heading to display, and clicking the enable night light option. If you’re a Mac user, simply select System Preferences, click Display, and then toggle to the Night Shift option. Doing so can help avoid uncomfortable eye strain symptoms that can hamper productivity.

Hydrate your eyes

Studies show that remote workers spend an average of 13 hours looking in front of their screens daily, leading to reduced blinking that can result in painful, dry eyes. To avoid these symptoms, you can use artificial tears when you travel. Eye drops like Rohto’s Dual Light Relief provide visual relief by replacing the natural moisture in your eyes. Since eye drops come in smaller packaging, digital nomads can conveniently carry them anywhere while traveling, and some artificial tears even protect from natural and digital light, reducing the risks of other ocular conditions like photokeratitis and eye strain.

Work in an area with proper lighting

Working in different places is part of the digital nomad experience. While it offers excellent flexibility, it’s always important to assess workspace lighting to ensure a conducive environment and avoid eye fatigue. An NIH study found that inadequate lighting can cause eye strain, making it essential for digital nomads to ensure proper lighting before working. If you wish to work in a coffee shop, you can choose a table perpendicular to the windows to have natural light and minimize glare. If you’re in an enclosed space, avoid sitting below harsh overhead lighting, which can cause screen reflections and eye strain.

The flexibility of digital nomadism can easily appeal to adventure seekers and those who want a better work-life balance. Just remember to follow these eye health tips to ensure an enjoyable remote travel experience without sacrificing your vision.