Ticketing professionals spend a lot of time looking at screens. Often, it can be several at once. And I’m not talking about the Jumbotrons at MLB ballparks or the giant screens that help bring major concert tours to life.
Between CRM systems, on-sale dashboards, reporting tools, settlements, patron communications, Zoom meetings and software development, big and little screen time is built into nearly every role across the ticketing ecosystem.
This makes digital eye strain a common workplace wellness challenge that ticketing professionals may experience without always recognizing it. Symptoms can include headaches, dry eyes and blurry vision. Over time, those symptoms may begin to feel like a normal part of the workday instead of signs that your eyes need a break.
Why Screens Can Make Your Eyes Tired
Unlike printed text, digital screens require your eyes to work a little harder to stay in focus. This is because pixels rather than sharp edges form letters on screens, so the eyes have to continually adjust to maintain clarity.
At the same time, screens affect how often we blink, something that many people do not notice. “When you look at a screen, you're so involved that you forget to blink. The blink rate goes from 15 times a minute to five or seven times per minute," explains Dr. Matthew Gardiner, an ophthalmologist with Massachusetts Eye and Ear, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. “You need to blink to re-establish the tear film on the eyes, a thin layer of liquid that protects the surface ... If you don't blink enough, your eyes dry out, causing blurry vision and discomfort.”
That combination can lead to what medical professionals call digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that can make people feel tired and cause difficulty concentrating.
The American Optometric Association notes that anyone who spends more than two continuous hours a day on screens is at risk. For many people who work in ticketing, that threshold could arrive early in the workday.
Small Adjustments Make a Big Difference
One of the most widely recommended strategies for reducing eye strain is the 20-20-20 rule. It is easy to remember: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away, explains the Canadian Association of Optometrists.
Simple as it sounds, this type of short visual reset has been shown to reduce discomfort associated with extended screen use. If this is not already part of your routine, setting a reminder in your calendar can make it easier to build the habit into your day. It can also help to choose a poster, photo, piece of art or another object that you like in your work area to focus on.
Another practical adjustment is to position computer screens 20 to 26 inches from your face and below eye level. Reducing glare from overhead lighting or windows whenever possible is also recommended.
These small workspace changes support both visual comfort and sustained concentration during extended periods of desk-based work.
Why Ticketing Work Makes Good Habits Especially Important
Many ticketing professionals switch between tasks throughout their workdays. Some days can be almost entirely screen-based, like when you are busy building events, preparing reports or supporting clients remotely. Other days may involve movement across your venue, campus or a conference environment, or travel to a client site. That type of shift can make it easy to overlook how much visual focus happens during desk-heavy stretches.
Research also shows screen exposure continues to rise across workplaces. One recent study found that desk workers now spend nearly 100 hours per week interacting with screens, including both work and personal time.
Movement Helps Your Eyes, Too
Stepping away from the screen for a few minutes at a time is one of the simplest ways to reduce digital eye strain. Yet in ticketing environments, where much of the work is done within systems, it can feel natural to move directly from one task to the next without pausing.
Experts note that symptoms such as headaches, dry eyes and blurry vision are usually temporary. With regular breaks, better screen positioning and simple habits like blinking more frequently during hours of focused work, visual comfort can improve noticeably over time.
So why not look up between steps in your workflow, stand up during a call, or walk to speak with a colleague when you can instead of sending a Slack or Teams message?
Your eyes will thank you.
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