From smartphones and laptops to televisions and tablets — screens have become a permanent presence in our daily lives in this ever-evolving digital age.
Even though these devices offer convenience and many benefits, they can also harm our eye health if not used in moderation. Here we explain how screen time can affect your eyes and vision, and offer ways to minimize the impact.
Want to protect your eyes from digital eye strain? Book an appointment with Family Vision Center in Rockledge & Merritt Island.
What Is Digital Eye Strain?
Excessive screen time can lead to digital eye strain, also called computer vision syndrome, which causes the eyes to become tired and uncomfortable.
Digital eye strain can put a damper not only on your productivity, but also on your overall well being.
Symptoms and Prevention of Digital Eye Strain
Some symptoms of digital eye strain include headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain.
Digital eye strain can be reduced by:
- Taking regular breaks from screen use.
- Following the 20-20-20 rule. This rule involves taking a 20-second break and looking at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes.
- Adjusting the settings on your devices. This can include increasing the font size and adjusting the brightness and contrast settings.
- Having good lighting in the room where you’re using screens, as bright or flickering lights can contribute to eye strain.
The Impact of Screen Time on Eye Health
Eye strain isn’t the only effect of prolonged exposure to screen time.
People who look at screens tend to blink much less often than those who don’t. Insufficient blinking can cause or worsen dry eye symptoms.
Recent studies have linked hours of screen time and spending less time outdoors to an increased risk of myopia (nearsightedness) in children and teenagers.
Blue light emitted by digital screens has been shown to disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, negatively affecting sleep patterns. One solution: glasses that filter out blue light.
Schedule an Appointment With in Rockledge & Merritt Island
To learn more about how to prevent digital eye strain and for all of your eye care needs, set up an appointment with Family Vision Center in Rockledge & Merritt Island.
