Screen Fatigue and Dry Eyes: The Best Supplements for Digital Eye Strain

You’re not alone if your eyes feel gritty, sore, or just plain exhausted after a day on your laptop or scrolling on your phone.

Screen time has become part of modern life, but your eyes weren’t designed to keep up with this much blue light, close-up focus, and constant exposure. It’s no wonder digital eye strain (also known as computer vision syndrome) now affects more than 65% of Aussie adults.

In this guide, we’ll break down what screen time does to your eyes, the nutrients that actually help, and how a science-backed supplement like Nutravision can help in our screen-heavy world.

Why Too Much Screen Time Is Wrecking Our Eyes

Most of us spend hours staring at screens. From back-to-back Zoom calls to late-night scrolling, it adds up — and our eyes feel it.

That tired, gritty, burning, tired sensation? It’s something eye doctors call digital eye strain, and it’s becoming one of the most common complaints among students, professionals, and anyone who spend a lot of time in front of screens.

So what’s actually happening?

• You blink less. Studies show we blink up to 60% less when staring at screens, which dries out the eye's surface and leads to that scratchy, uncomfortable feeling.
• Your focus muscles get stuck. Ever felt that blurry haze after pulling your eyes away from your laptop? Your ciliary muscles (those responsible for focusing) get overworked and fatigued.
• Blue light drains your eyes. Prolonged exposure to blue light from screens can mess with contrast sensitivity, strain the retina, and even impact sleep patterns.
• The tear film goes unstable. Constant screen use throws off the delicate balance of the tear layer, leading to faster evaporation and more irritation.
• Inflammation builds up. Over time, this leads to a cycle of dryness, inflammation, and nerve stress—sometimes called the Dry Eye Cycle.

Why Drops Aren’t Enough for Screen-Stressed Eyes

Eye drops are great… for about 10 minutes.

They can soothe that burning, gritty feeling in the moment. But if you’ve noticed your symptoms always come back — especially by the end of a workday — you’re not alone. And you’re not doing anything wrong.

Here’s why: Drops only treat the surface. They add moisture temporarily but don’t address why your eyes are dry or tired in the first place.

What’s missing? Internal support.

Your eyes are not only dry, but they are also overworked, inflamed, and undernourished from the inside out.

Think about it like skincare. You wouldn’t expect a spritz of mist to fix deep dehydration or inflammation; you’d treat the root causes with good nutrition, sleep, and targeted products. Your eyes need that same whole-body support.

Here’s what drops don’t do:

• Soothe tired nerves strained by constant focusing and the screen light
• Restore tear gland signalling so your eyes naturally hydrate themselves
• Reduce inflammation that builds up with hours of exposure and not enough breaks
• Balance tear chemistry, because tears are more than just water

And that’s why so many people with digital eye strain hit a wall. Surface fixes just don’t go deep enough.

To feel real relief, and we're not talking just a quick splash of moisture, your eyes need nutrients that work behind the scenes: repairing, regulating, and reinforcing your natural tear system.

The Best Supplements for Digital Eye Strain

So, if eye drops aren’t enough, what does work?

For many Australians dealing with screen fatigue, the answer lies in targeted eye nutrition supplements that go beyond hydration. These nutrients don’t just “coat” the eye — they support the retina, focusing muscles in the eye, tear glands, and even the gut-eye immune pathways that influence eye comfort from within.

Here are the 5 key nutrients and best supplements for digital eye strain:

1. Lutein & Zeaxanthin

• Filter blue light from screens, helping reduce oxidative stress on the macula
• Improve contrast sensitivity, making it easier to focus and reducing visual fatigue.
• Support tear stability by maintaining healthy goblet cells, the cells that produce mucin, a crucial layer of your tear film.

Science says: Supplementing with lutein + zeaxanthin can enhance visual performance and reduce glare sensitivity in digital screen users, including in children. (Rajesh Parekh et al., Advances in Therapy, 2024).

2. Saffron

• Acts as a potent antioxidant, protecting retinal cells from oxidative damage
• Supports the gut–eye axis, reducing systemic inflammation that affects the tear glands
• Eases mental fatigue, which often goes hand-in-hand with screen fatigue

One study found that 28mg of saffron daily improved mood, reduced anxiety and managed stress without side effects (Kell et al., Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2017).

3. Methylcobalamin (Active Vitamin B12)

• Repair corneal nerves damaged by chronic inflammation or overuse
• Improves neuromuscular coordination, helping your eyes shift focus more easily
• Reduces sensations of burning or stinging in screen-fatigued eyes

Good to know: Many people, especially vegetarians, older adults, and people with gut issues, are low in B12 without realising it.

4. European Bilberry Extract

• Enhances blood flow to the retina
• Reduces inflammation and oxidative stress
• Helps eyes adapt to screen use and low-light conditions (yes, that includes your 10 pm scroll)

Look for: A high-strength bilberry extract standardised to 36% anthocyanins, the highest clinical grade

5. Vitamin D3

• Supports tear production
• Helps regulate immune responses in the eye
• Especially useful for those with chronic inflammation and low sunlight exposure

A 2024 meta-analysis found that vitamin D supplements improved tear film stability and subjective symptoms in patients with dry eye disease (Chen et al., Contact Lens & Anterior Eye, 2024).

So… Can These Eye Supplements Improve Vision?

In a word: yes, but not in the way glasses do.

Eye supplements don’t change your prescription, but they can:

• Improve visual performance (less glare, better contrast)
• Reduce strain and discomfort
• Support long-term eye health, including macular and optic nerve resilience

And for screen-fatigued eyes? They offer support that no eye drop, pair of glasses, or night mode setting ever could.

You Need to Support Your Eyes With Smarter Habits Too

Supplements do the deeper repair, but your daily choices help reduce the load. You could take the best supplements for blurry vision or dry eyes or eye strain, but if you’re still staring at your screen for 10 hours straight, your eyes will wear out.

So you need both smart nutrition and smart habits. And here are some smart habits to make screen time more eye-friendly:

• Take regular movement breaks: Every hour, step away from your screen — stand, stretch, and walk around. Physical breaks ease visual strain, reduce ciliary muscle tension, and help reset your blink rate, which supports a healthy tear film.
• Keep your screen below eye level: Looking slightly down reduces exposure of the ocular surface, slowing evaporation and preventing dry spots.
• Use blue light filters or night mode: Apps like f.lux or built-in blue light modes help reduce retinal oxidative stress at night.
• Hydrate more than just your eyes: Drink water throughout the day, not just coffee. Systemic hydration supports tear volume, nutrient transport, and ocular blood flow. Aim for at least 8 cups daily, more in hot or dry conditions.
• Don’t skimp on sleep: Your eyes need sleep as much as your brain does. During sleep, your eyes regenerate tear components and recover from oxidative stress.
• Fuel your eyes with key vision nutrients: Good supplements work better when paired with real food. For eye health, that means leafy greens, orange veggies, and oily fish. Vitamin A (found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach) supports the surface of the eye and helps prevent dryness. Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon, sardines, or flaxseeds keep inflammation in check and support tear production.
• Cut back on ultra-processed foods: Sugar and processed snacks feed systemic inflammation. Opt for whole foods rich in eye-friendly antioxidants like lutein, omega-3s (from fish), and polyphenols (from berries and dark chocolate).

Did you know? Chronic stress and poor diet can disrupt the gut–immune–eye axis, making it harder for your body to respond to dry eye treatments. That’s why lifestyle changes are as significant as what’s in your capsule.

Supplements like Nutravision work best when they’re part of a bigger picture, one in which your screen habits, diet, sleep, and hydration all support the eyes you’re asking so much of.

Choosing the Best Supplement for Dry Eyes & Digital Eye Strain

Because not all capsules are created equal, and your eyes deserve better.

Let’s be honest — the supplement aisle can be overwhelming. Rows of shiny bottles promising “eye support,” “vision protection,” or “blue light defense” all start to blur together.

So here’s what to look for when choosing an eye nutrition supplement that works, especially if you’re spending hours in front of a screen.

1. Targets All 7 Parts of the Dry Eye Cycle

A truly effective dry eye supplement should support the full cycle: from tear film stability and mucin production to nerve repair and inflammation control.

2. Includes the Key Nutrients in Therapeutic Doses

• Lutein and zeaxanthin – for blue light filtering and macular support
• Methylcobalamin (B12) – for corneal nerve health and tear gland signalling
• Bilberry extract (standardized to 36% anthocyanins) – for microcirculation and screen adaptation
• Saffron – for neuroprotection, oxidative stress relief, and mood support
• Vitamin D3 – for immune modulation, anti-inflammatory action and tear secretion (especially if you work indoors)

3. Uses Bioavailable, Body-Ready Forms

Not all nutrients are created equal — and that matters when it comes to results. The best eye supplements use ingredients your body can actually absorb and use effectively. Look for:

• Methylcobalamin instead of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12): Methylcobalamin is the active form your body can use right away — especially important for nerve repair. Cyanocobalamin, by contrast, is a cheaper synthetic version that must be converted in the liver and may be less effective for people with methylation issues.
• Vitamin D3 instead of D2: D3 (colecalciferol) is the natural form your body makes from sunlight — and it’s significantly more effective at raising and maintaining optimal vitamin D levels than D2 (ergocalciferol).
• Standardised botanical extracts (not just “berry powder” or “herb blend”): A standardised extract guarantees a consistent level of the active compound — like 36% anthocyanins in bilberry or 95% procyanidins in grape seed — so you get a reliable, therapeutic effect every time. Generic plant powders can vary widely in strength and potency, meaning you may not be getting enough of what actually works.

4. Trusted by Experts, Loved by Real People

The best dry eye supplements don’t just talk the talk. They show results through clinical insight, real-world testimonials, and ingredients selected by people who understand the eye, inside and out.

Real Australians. Real Screen Relief

“My eyes used to burn, but I haven’t touched eye drops in weeks — and I’m staring at screens all day.” Ann, Academic, Melbourne

“Before Nutravision, I was using lubricating drops constantly,” she says. “My eyes felt gritty and irritated, like sandpaper after a long day. But after just a few weeks on Nutravision, I’ve stopped reaching for the drops altogether.”

Ann’s story is one of thousands. Screen fatigue is an epidemic all around the world. But it doesn’t have to be a daily struggle.

Settle for More than Surface Fixes

Screen fatigue requires more than surface solutions. Your eyes are powered by complex systems involving the nerves, focusing muscles, glands, and tear chemistry, and when screens stress them out, it shows.

That’s why internal support matters. Targeted nutrients like lutein, zeaxanthin, B12, and saffron don’t just moisturise — they help rebuild and rejuvenate. They nourish the eye from the inside out, supporting tear stability, calming inflammation, and easing that burning, blinking discomfort that builds up after hours of screen time.

If you're looking for a supplement for digital eye strain, then Nutravision is a premium, science-backed option that has worked for thousands of Aussies.

“My eyes are no longer tired at the end of the day in front of the computer, and I am enjoying needlecraft again. Nutravision has changed my life!” Pam, Business Owner, Geelong

It isn’t another fish oil or multivitamin. It’s a clinician-designed, award-winning, 100% vegan formula built for the modern digital lifestyle. No fluff. No fillers. Just pure, therapeutic ingredients that support the full picture, from visual comfort to long-term eye health.

If your eyes work as hard as you do, give them the support they deserve.

Ready to feel clear, focused, comfortable and screen-proof again?

👉 Discover Nutravision now — and start seeing the difference.