Technology has us all connected, all the time. From waking up in the morning checking social media on your phone to opening your computer’s browser and email to begin the workday to Netflix and chill to relax in the evening, you may be surprised to learn that the average American spends 7 hours and 4 minutes per day on screen time. Whether for work, school, or pleasure the digital world has our focus. Does staring at my phone, computer screen, or TV really damage my eyes?
Digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome, describes a group of eye and vision related problems that create discomfort due to prolonged periods of time viewing digital screens. Symptoms include eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, burning or itchy eyes, sensitivity to light, difficulty concentrating, and although not related to the eyes, neck and shoulder pain. These symptoms are brought on by poor lighting, glare on the screen, improper viewing distances, poor sitting posture, uncorrected vision problems, or a combination of these factors. For these reasons, it is highly recommended to follow the 20/20/20 rule-take a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away every 20 minutes.
To help alleviate any discomfort to the eyes due to digital screen time, consider these simple changes: wearing glass that filter blue light, properly viewing position, taking rest breaks, eliminate accessing screens whenever possible, wear prescription glasses or contacts with tints, blink often or add artificial tears to your eyes, use anti-glare screens, improve the lighting near the screen, and implement vision therapy if needed.
If you believe that screen time has negatively impacted your vision, contact Pendleton Eye for a comprehensive eye exam to evaluate your eye health and to assess any changes in vision. To book your appointment, visit our webpage here at WEBSITE or call 760-758-2008.
