This installment in the Reader’s Library is, admittedly, a little unconventional.

Quick note: I am only suggesting a tool, not promoting a specific brand.

First, a little backstory.

I started my new job over a year ago. It’s a great job, but it requires that I am at my computer for eight hours. That doesn’t include the hours I spend writing or looking at my phone. Shortly after starting my job, I was plagued by painful headaches that impeded my ability to do other tasks. When I got my yearly eye exam, pictures were taken that let me see the immense pressure on my optic nerves. I’ll leave the medical jargon out, but my eyes were taking a pounding. Long story short too late, all the time looking at screens was making my head hurt.

Why am I telling you about my screen time and the headaches it was causing? Because the advent of eBooks read on Kindles, Nooks, and other electronic formats makes it so readers spend a lot of time staring at screens too. And few things make it more difficult to focus on a story than a pounding headache.

Thankfully, my story has a happy ending.

Late last year, my kind husband started looking into ways to help alleviate screen induced eye strain. Eventually, he came across suggestions for blue light filtering glasses. He bought me a couple of pairs from Amazon for Christmas and had me try one on while writing.

The relief was instant! Right away, my eyes felt less strain from the harsh light of the computer screen and the dull ache in my temples eased. Over the next few weeks, I noticed a significant drop in the number of days I had headaches. I now recommend them to anyone who spends a lot of time looking at screens, headaches or not. This includes people who read electronically. Do your eyes a favor and try a pair out. As an alternative, there are blue light filters that can attach to your computer or phone. Personally, I like the glasses because I can take them off and leave them by my device without a hassle. Plus, they look good.

Now, I do still have headaches from time to time due to stress, dehydration, ponytails/buns, crying, etc. But the frequency and amount of pain has never reached the level it did last year. Now I can read and write without the eye strain getting in the way.