Reminders / 01
20-20-20 Eye Break Reminder
Follow the 20-20-20 rule without watching the clock: every 20 minutes the page reminds you to look at something 20 feet, about 6 metres, away for 20 seconds, and counts the break down for you.
20-20-20 Eye Break Reminder: The page counts down to the next break, then plays a sound, shows a notification, and runs a 20-second countdown with a soft tone at the end. It counts the breaks you take and skip today, and starts over instead of ringing late if the computer was asleep. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Health & sport tools
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Runs in your browser. Settings and today's count stay in this browser.
Reminders off
Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet (6 metres) away for 20 seconds.
Going for a coffee or a meeting? Press Pause, or Stop, so the reminder does not ring while you are away; if the computer sleeps, the timer starts over when it wakes.
Alerts
Alerts work while this tab is open, also in the background. Closing the tab or letting the computer sleep stops them. In a background tab the browser may deliver the alert a few seconds late.
Why screens tire your eyes
To see a screen sharply, the focusing muscle inside the eye stays tensed for as long as you look at it, and people blink far less often while they concentrate on one. The result, often called digital eye strain, is tired, dry, or burning eyes, blurred vision, and headaches after long sessions. It is uncomfortable but does not damage the eyes.
Looking into the distance lets the focusing muscle relax, and a pause is a reminder to blink. That is the idea behind the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet, or 6 metres, away for at least 20 seconds.
Other ways to ease eye strain
Sit about an arm's length from the screen with its top at or slightly below eye level, and set its brightness close to the room around it. Reduce glare from windows and lamps, and make text large enough to read without leaning in. The monitor test helps check the display itself.
Work in a lit room rather than by the screen alone; the lights-on reminder tells you when daylight fades. If your eyes stay dry, artificial tears can help, and persistent discomfort or changes in vision are a reason to see an eye doctor.
How to use it
- Press Start reminders and allow notifications.
- Keep working; when the reminder comes, look at something far away until the tone.
- Pause when you step away, and change the interval or break length if you like.
Privacy & limitations
Settings and today's count are kept in this browser only. Only if you switch on reminders with the tab closed does the page send TOEA's server this browser's push address and the times of the next breaks; each is deleted once sent or cancelled.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 20-20-20 rule?
Every 20 minutes of screen work, look at something about 20 feet (6 metres) away for at least 20 seconds. It is recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association to ease digital eye strain.
Does it prevent eye damage?
Screen work causes eye strain, dryness, and tiredness, not lasting damage. Regular breaks relax the focusing muscles and remind you to blink, which is why they ease the symptoms. See an eye doctor if discomfort persists or your vision changes.
What should I look at?
Anything far away: out of a window, or the far end of the room. The point is to let your eyes focus at a distance, so looking at your phone does not count.
Will it remind me if the tab is closed?
In the tab it works while the page is open, in the background too. Switch on Also remind me when this tab is closed to get the breaks as notifications with the tab closed as well: the next three hours are scheduled each time you open the page, so a forgotten reminder does not go on all night.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required