Eyes and Digital Devices
A survey by the American Optometric Association found that on average, Americans spend 7 hours a day on a handheld device or computer. Devices are everywhere these days – work, home, school, medical office, restaurants…the list can go on and on and on.
Understanding How to Prevent Eye Damage from Phones
Recently, our clinical liaison was at a local employee health fair, and she received a decent number of comments and questions regarding does screen time affects vision and how the daily use of electronic devices makes a person’s eyes feel tired or dry. The health fair participants are not the only ones complaining about eye fatigue, wondering if screen time affects vision, or experiencing strain and dryness. We are also hearing it from our patients, with many asking, can screens damage your eyes? Luckily, there are several options to help combat some of the common complaints we hear (eye strain or fatigue, headaches, burning eyes, blurred vision, double vision, and neck/shoulder discomfort) from those concerned about whether can screens damage your eyes.
Desktop Computers / Laptops
Adjustments can be made to the height and angle of the monitor to eye level, as well as ambient lighting and font size to ease eye strain and neck and shoulder discomfort. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a web page on computer workstations. Another option may be to consider special computer glasses. These glasses may have either a yellow tint or an anti-glare coating to help decrease glare from the monitor. Additionally, anti-glare/privacy screens can be attached to a desktop or laptop screen to reduce glare.
Handheld Devices and How to Prevent Eye Damage from Phones
Many of us use a handheld device more frequently than a computer monitor. Device screens are smaller, resulting in smaller fonts and fewer pixels. People will not stop using their handheld devices altogether, so how can they prevent eye damage from phones?
The easiest step in learning how to prevent eye damage from phones is to follow the 20-20 Rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look 20 feet away. Take this one step further and get up and walk around. Your neck and shoulders will thank you. This rule applies to all devices, not just handheld.
Increase the font size on your handheld device. This will make reading easier, and you may find yourself squinting less.
Adjust screen brightness, ensuring the screen is neither too bright nor too dim. Reducing glare on the screen and making sure the screen is clean can also help reduce eye strain.
Don’t forget to blink! Yes, something as easy as blinking can make a huge difference. We tend to blink less when we read or use a computer or other devices. Blinking less causes the eyes to become dry and irritated and your vision to become blurry.
Does Screen Time Affect Vision?
Another common question is, does screen time affect vision? The short answer is yes. Prolonged screen time can lead to digital eye strain, which includes symptoms like headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. To mitigate these effects, it’s crucial to take regular breaks, adjust screen settings, and ensure proper lighting.
As always, if you are noticing changes in your vision or are experiencing some of the common complaints mentioned above, or it has been more than a year since your last exam, call 919-282-1100 or visit https://kellyeyecenter.com/ to schedule an appointment.
Life is beautiful; see it clearly!