Screen Strain Check
Read for a few minutes while your camera counts your blinks and measures how close you sit. Most people blink far less at a screen than they think.
How it works
- Allow the camera and look at a red dot for three seconds.
- Read a classic short story on screen for as long as you choose.
- See your blink rate minute by minute, your distance from the screen, and how much you squinted.
You blinked 6 times a minute. At rest it is about 15 to 20.
Reading time
Let’s find your eyes.
Distance is estimated from the size of your iris in the picture and assumes a typical webcam, so read it as approximate. This is not a medical test. Sore or dry eyes that do not improve are a reason to see an optician.
Questions about tired eyes
Why do my eyes get tired when I read on a screen?
Mostly because you stop blinking. People blink around 15 to 20 times a minute at rest and often a third of that while concentrating on a screen. Fewer blinks means the surface of the eye dries out, which feels like tiredness, burning, or blurred text. Sitting too close and small type add to it. See the guide on tired eyes when reading.
How far should I sit from the screen?
About an arm’s length for a laptop or monitor, roughly 50 to 70 centimetres, and 30 to 40 for a phone. If you find yourself leaning in, the text is too small. Make the text bigger before you move closer.
What helps?
Blink on purpose when you notice dryness. Follow the 20-20-20 habit: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Increase text size, and keep the screen no brighter than the room.
Is my video recorded?
No. Each camera frame is analysed on your device and discarded. Only the counts are kept, in this browser.