The amount of time spent staring at computer screens and smartphones has increased the number of people making appointments at an optometrist Victoria complaining about dry eyes. At first they may pass it off as simple eye fatigue even blame seasonal allergies for their dry, itchy, irritated eyes, caused by all the screen time. The issue is that unlike reading a book or watching TV all the focusing requires the eye muscles to work much harder going back and forth. As a result all the focusing means we forget to blink, blinking is an important function that stimulates tear production and spreads the tears over the surface of the eye. As we continue to blink less frequently several issues arise with eyes feeling gritty and dry. When extended periods of time are spent in front of computer and smartphone screens remind yourself to blink, look up from the screen and …