Over 60% of Americans Suffer from Digital Eye Strain

Let’s face it: it’s nearly impossible to avoid using a screen to engage with daily life. Whether you’re shopping for your grocery pick-up order, doing homework, or putting in a long day at the remote office, screens are simply everywhere. But what is that doing to our eye health?

For better or worse, some of us can’t really help how much screen time we experience on a daily basis. Many of us are on the computer eight hours a day at work, and then we head home to decompress in front of the television. We can’t really blame you for participating in those habits – technology is just too hard to completely avoid these days. But all this screen time can lead to unpleasant symptoms of digital eye strain.

What Is Digital Eye Strain?

Digital eye strain, otherwise known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), is the result of excessive screen use. Its effects are widespread – recent reports show that more than 60 percent of Americans experience symptoms of CVS. As its name suggests, this condition puts a lot of strain on the eyes, causing physical discomfort. The strain can kick in as quickly as two hours into using your screen.

This includes all types of screens that emit blue light. Our eyes have evolved to process large amounts of natural light, but this artificial blue light is a whole different story. Studies have shown that it can lead to sleep problems, weight gain, and, of course, eye strain.

This light is especially harmful in low-light settings. Do you lie in bed before sleeping, scrolling through your emails or Facebook page on your smartphone or tablet? You’re not alone. This habit is becoming more and more common in adults and teens across the globe.

The contrast between the dark room and the bright screen puts strain on the eyes. Having to focus on the bright screen and small font can result in tired eyes that need to be relaxed. Like the rest of your body, your eyes need a break too.

Digital Eye Strain Symptoms

If you think you may be suffering from digital eye strain, there are a few ways to tell:

1. You may find yourself squinting. Difficulty focusing is a common symptom of digital eye strain. The eye is so focused for so long without repose that it grows tired and loses focus.

2. You may experience headaches and excessive light sensitivity. As a result of this overworked eye, you may get headaches and become overly sensitive to bright lights. Sometimes the headaches can be brought on by light sensitivity.

3. You may develop either dry or watery eyes. Either extreme in this case can be a symptom of digital eye strain.

4. You may get neck and shoulder pains. A result of sitting at the computer for long periods of time. Chances are, if you get to the point of neck pains, your eyes are in just as much need of a break.

5. You may start seeing double. Have you ever been at a computer for so long that when you looked away, everything looked fuzzy or like it was vibrating? This is a clear sign that you need to rest your eyes.

If you find that your digital eye strain is restricting you at work or in your daily routines, visit your eye doctor for information on how you can get your eyes back on track.

Who Is at Risk?

Generally speaking, anyone who uses a digital device is at risk of developing digital eye strain. Those who use it excessively are at an even higher risk. This doesn’t come as a surprise, seeing as most people have smartphones and a lot of jobs require long hours working on a computer or laptop.

These days, kids are at a high risk as well. With more and more of their educational time being spent on screens, as well as the lure of video games and TV during their leisure time, they really need a digital detox every now and then. Make sure you are doing enough to protect your children’s vision.

Protect Your Eyes

The best way to protect your eyes is to take the right steps towards preventing digital eye strain. This will help you sleep better, be more productive, avoid those pesky headaches, and above all, you’ll be on your way towards attaining optimal eye health.

The first thing you can do is eliminate as much of the blue light from your computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This can be done very easily with blue light glasses or by installing a special filter. These filters will give your screens an orangey hue that’ll be easier on your eyes than the harsh blue lights.

The next thing you can do is take a break! Yes, that is the best sentence in the English language. Get your eyes away from the screen, grab a snack, head over to the water cooler, or maybe even wash some dishes while you’re at it. Try to take these breaks at least every hour, and make sure you look away from the screen briefly every 20 minutes.

Some other easy things you can do are to make sure your device is always at an arm’s length away, increase text size on your devices, wear the proper eyewear your eyes require, and blink more often to keep your eyes moist.

Now that we’ve all had a taste of the digital age and everything it has to offer, it’s going to be difficult to cut back on its use. But ultimately, this is another thing you can do to reduce digital eye strain symptoms. Next time you want to read the news, try picking up a paper newspaper first. Read a book before bed or knit instead of using your digital device.

Digital eye strain will only continue to affect more and more Americans until people decide to take care of their eyes. Digital devices are our friends, not foes. Use them responsibly and avoid all the pain that comes with digital eye strain.