The severity of these symptoms tends to increase with the amount of time an individual has spent looking at a screen. So what does this include? Blurred or double vision, irritation or dryness, headaches or back pain. You may have also heard of it referred to as “digital eye strain.” Today, there’s even a name for it: computer vision syndrome (CVS). And it’s not just adults at their desk jobs it’s affecting those younger and younger as we become digitally dependent earlier in life. More than that, our eyes today are constantly in motion, quickly scanning left to right and repeatedly darting up and down as we shift our attention to and from the screen.įor this reason, it should not come at any surprise that eye problems-and the other physiological ailments that can arise as a result-are becoming increasingly serious and widespread. The eyesight of our hunter-gatherer ancestors was primarily set much further in the distance, and it is only in more recent history that our attention has been substantially focused only a foot to 18-inches in front of us. Humans were not designed to stare at illuminated screens for hours, or days at a time. But have our eyes had a chance to evolve at the same rate as our technological habits?
This means that we are more connected than ever before, and a wealth of information sits at our fingertips. If you haven’t done so already, now’s a good time to set some guidelines.We live in a digital age. “Adults tend to be better at this than kids, who will power through hours in front of a screen. “With all the digital screen time we’re experiencing, it’s more important than ever to remember to step away from time to time and to spend time outdoors,” says Jardine.
Being outside has been shown to reduce the progression of nearsightedness. Adjust the brightness and contrast of your screen to your comfort level.Insert paper clips or bookmarks to remind them to look up. Alternate reading e-books with real books and encourage kids to look up and out the window every few chapters.Practice the 20-20-20 rule: take a break from the screen every 20 minutes (set a timer if you need to) look at least 20 feet away from the screen for at least 20 seconds.When indoors, point the screen away from bright lights to help reduce glare. This protects vision, as well as the neck and posture. Position screens about an arm’s length away and a bit below your line of vision.Jardine offers the following advice to help children and adults prevent digital eye strain: In terms of possible long-term effects, research indicates that kids who spend most of their time indoors in front of screens may be at greater risk for myopia (nearsightedness). It could manifest as blurred vision or tired eyes that tear or sting-or even headaches at the front of your head.” Morn Eye Center Ophthalmologist Griffin Jardine, MD, “anyone can experience some discomfort from staring at a screen for too long.
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The good news is that looking at a computer, smartphone, or TV screen for long periods will not “ruin your eyes,” despite the old warnings. Whether it’s the result of hours of remote learning, online entertainment, or working on the computer at a makeshift home office, digital eye strain is likely to be part of our future. As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into the new school year, it looks like kids and adults will continue to experience more at-home screen time than ever.
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