I suggest using a work timer to remind you to take short breaks every 30 minutes or so. My favorite timers are xwrits (Linux) and AntiRSI (Mac). (N.B. Despit

I suggest using a work timer to remind you to take short breaks every 30 minutes or so. My favorite timers are xwrits (Linux) and AntiRSI (Mac). (N.B. Despite being an X program for wrists, 'xwrits' is not a typo.) As you can guess from the names, they are principally designed to help with RSI, but they can help with eye pain as well. Here are a couple of things to try during the breaks: (1) count to 30 while focusing on something more than 20 feet away; (2) close your eyes and place your hands over them for a count of 30. I know it's sometimes hard to take breaks when in the throes of a hackathon, but you'll get better with practice. I try to be really anal, taking breaks even if I'm mid-line; that way, I know I'll get back to work when the break is over.