In this age of technology, we live in a world where our screens have become some of our closest friends. But aside from the positives of our devices, there are also a ton of negatives that we rarely talk about. One that makes a huge impact on our bodies is the strain that screen time puts on one of our most important organs, our eyes. We often neglect how much we need our eyes, and eye health often gets put on the backburner.
According to a 2016 Nielsen Company audience report, the average American dedicates a staggering ten hours a day to screen time. That’s more time than the average American spends eating and sleeping combined. This excessive amount of screen time causes side effects like eye irritation, fatigue, blurred vision, and more. But even as our reliance on our devices grows, there are things that we can do to prevent further damage and protect our eyes as much as possible. While screens and digital devices have permeated our work, our schools, and even our early childhood care – there are many practices to ensure that we are doing everything we can in order to protect and care for our eyes. No matter what stage of life we are in it is important to take give our eyes optimal support for clear vision, longevity and overall health.
Technology has changed a multitude of industries and the way that many Americans work. There are over 100 million workers that work in anywhere from a low-digital to a high-digital industry. That’s practically a third of the entire United States population. Screens are also a huge part of the modern collegiate system. A computer is often a necessity for anyone who is attending college. More and more textbooks are being offered on the computer, which means more screen time that is required. Even if a person would like to step away from screens, it’s often hard to do thanks to the rapid digitalization of our modern lives. Preventing eye strain from the use of digital electronics is an important topic that is rarely talked about. Eyewear specifically manufactured for computer work is a great option for those who work in a high-digital industry, are in college, or simply work in an environment that requires a lot of screen time. These glasses often work in two ways. An anti-reflective coating reduces glare that bounces off screens and light sources. Some of these glasses also use a color tint that is designed to increase the contrast on the screen and reduce the harsh light that often comes from computer screens. When using such protective eyewear, your eyes are able to relax. Usage of computer specific lenses will promote clearer vision and ultimately lead to healthier, and less stressed and fatigued eyes. Although most people are unaware of such a solution, these protective lenses can dramatically effect everyday life and overall eye health of the modern individual who is required to be in front of a screen for any part of their day.
When is the last time you saw a teenager without their cell phone? Thanks to the societal integration of the internet and social media, teenagers spend hours upon hours in front of screens each day. Even outside of thier leisure time, places like school often put teenagers in front of screens as method of information delivery. Schools want to prepare teenagers for the rapid digitalization of today’s industries, however the unspoken result of this is the affect that this ultimately has on their helath given the additional screen time. There are great benefits to exposing the average teenager to all of the benefits that learning about computers can offer when it comes to different careers. Screen time for teenagers is a necessary component of our modern lives, that will only increase with time. The best thing that teenagers can do is to learn how to introduce breaks into their screen time. A good ratio is often called the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look away for twenty seconds at something that’s 20 feet away. If you must be on the computer more consistently, take a 5-10 minute break every 50-60 minutes. These breaks will drastically reduce the strain on their your eyes and promote a great habit of caring about your eye health. A simple thing to do is to blink repeatedly. Staring at a screen often dries out our eyes, so blinking is a great way to replenish that moisture. Also, remember to schedule regular checkups with your optometrist. We recommend that both teenagers and adults visit an eye care professional at least once a year!
As well as teenagers, small children also get a lot of screen time. Devices are becoming the new babysitters. As a result, this increase in screen time presents as great of a problem for babies and toddlers as it does for adults and teenagers. Along with eye strain, there is a study that has made connections between increased screen time and slower speech development. A toddler’s brain is in a stage of rapid growth and excessive screen time has been proven to have a negative effect on that development. But, when it comes to screen time and toddlers, it’s not all bad. Even groups such as the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) have changed their mind when it comes to the amount of screen time that’s appropriate for young children. It’s all about moderation, at any age – and good parenting practices to make sure that our children are not only equipped for the modern technological work, but that they have the knowledge and experience necessary to take care of their eyes as they grow and become further immersed in this world.
Given the current climate of technology in modern life, there is no age that is too young for teaching our children about eye health and going to the eye doctor. According to the American Optometric Association, infants should have their first eye exam at 6 months. Children usually only need to get vision tests every two years, unless vision correction is needed. When it comes to screen time and eye health, teach your children about the importance of taking breaks. It is also recommended to introduce a family media use plan that implements intended times and usage of devices. Stick to the rules that you set as a parent and introduce alternatives of staying occupied.
We can’t draw back the hands of time. As a society, we are knee deep in the technological age, and we are only moving deeper into it with each and every day. We are all responsible for the way in which we work with screens in order to protect ourselves and our eyes. Simple things that we can do such as taking breaks, investing in computer eyewear, or just turning the devices off can do a lot for preserving our eye health. Also, now more than ever is a great time to schedule regular eye care checkups. Meeting with an optometrist can only help you to take care of your eyes and catch any possible problems before they get worse. All these things facilitate a healthy use of technology so we can evolve and grow in this modern society and protect our eyes and our care for our health in the process!
