Some computer users with lots of discipline might be able to force themselves to taking regular breaks but the average user usually forgets about them or are concentrated on work which they do not want to interrupt.

The best help for these users is to make use of a software program like Eyecare that informs them when it is time to take a break. Eyecare is probably the most basic type of eye stress relief breaks programs. It is a portable software program that runs quietly in the background. The only indication that it is running is a system tray icon and the process in the task manager.

The program will automatically bring up a black screen every 20 minutes for one minute so that the user can rest the eyes. There is unfortunately no configuration available at this point in development which means it is not possible to change the frequency of the screen blackouts. Eyecare is also a bit heavy on the resource side as it uses more than 20 Megabytes of computer memory while running. Viable alternatives with more options are Workrave or Eye Defender.