Is Screen Time Affecting Your Eyes?

Whether you’re at work, relaxing at home, out with friends, or running errands – it’s hard to escape technology! As our screen time increases, it’s essential to consider the impacts this may have on our eye health.

The Effects of Screen Time on Eye Health

Too many hours in front of a computer, TV, games console or mobile device can take its toll on your eye health. The movement, glare and blue light projected from a digital screen can result in less blinking, making it harder for your eyes to focus and cause additional strain. These issues can result in lasting effects on your vision, even more so in children.

Eye Strain

The medical term for eye strain is asthenopia; symptoms include ocular fatigue, blurred vision and headaches. Screens can increase the likelihood of eye strain because the unnatural light and glare forces the muscles in your eyes to tense.

Eye strain is also often a symptom of out of date glasses, long sightedness or astigmatism. If your vision is severely impacted, then it is essential that you speak to a professional for the right medical help. Our laser eye surgery experts are available to provide you with treatment to restore your vision quickly and safely.

Irritation and Dry Eyes

We tend to blink less when looking at digital screens, due to this, your eyes can become dry and irritated. Dry eye syndrome can feel gritty, sore and itchy, you will usually experience blurred vision and sensitivity to light.

Find out more about dry eyes and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) or book a consultation to discuss available treatments.

Retinal Damage

The blue light projected from digital screens can reach your retina and may damage the light sensitive cells. Damage to these cells is known as macular degeneration.

Protecting Your Eyes from Digital Screens

With there being some potentially harmful consequences of screen time on your eyes, it’s essential to take the steps to protect your vision before any damage is done. Fortunately, there are some easy steps you can take to reduce the risk of strain and damage.

Take a Break

Taking some time away from your screens gives your eyes a chance to rest. We recommend the 20-20-20 rule; take a break every 20 minutes and look at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Adjust Brightness and Glare

If you’re in front of a screen for a long time, decrease your brightness settings and make sure to adjust the angle of your screen to reduce the glare given off by the synthetic light. If your device is brighter than any surrounding light it can make your eyes work harder, resulting in strain.

Regularly Visit Your Optician

The health of your eyes is essential, for those who are not aware of any problems you should have your eyes tested at least every 2 years.

Protect Your Eyesight with LaserVision

Contact us for more information on how to maintain your eye health. Or read our tips on protecting your eyes over the summer.