Is screen time affecting your eye health?

Many people have suddenly found themselves spending more time at home, relying on televisions, video games, computers, and phones to help pass the hours. Is all this screen time bad for our eye health?

According to the Ophthalmological Society of Ghana (OSG), 50% of teens admit that they feel addicted to their mobile device, and 27% of their parents admit they can’t put down their smartphone either. You may not think that you spend too much time on your phone, but think about all the screens you view daily: smartphone, desktop computer, laptop, tablet, game system, and LED TV. Many of us spend more time looking at screens than sleeping. The average Ghanaian clocks several minutes of screen time (touted to be in the region of 7.4 hours). It’s easy to see that dependence on digital devices is a worldwide problem.

Potential effects of screen time, include:

· Eye fatigue – Your eyes can get tired from intense use causing double vision, headaches, and concentration difficulties.

· Dry and irritated eyes – You tend to blink less when staring at a screen and your eyes can become dry and irritated. You should avoid dry eye because it can impact the health of your eye and cause blurry vision.

· Loss of focus flexibility – Typically, loss of focus flexibility happens as we age, but excessive screen time can impact our ability to adjust our eyes to see at all distances quickly.

· Nearsightedness – Screen time can keep our kids indoors, which can have a long-term impact on eye health. In children, natural daylight is important to developing eyes. Studies have shown children who spend more time indoors are more likely to develop nearsightedness.

· Retinal damage – Digital devices release blue light, which can reach the inner lining of the back of your eye (retina). Studies show that blue light can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina. This can lead to early age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to loss of eyesight. According to the American Optometric Association, children are more likely than adults to experience when exposed to this high-energy light.

In addition, too much screen time can have a major impact on your sleep. Research shows that the blue light alters the brain’s sleep rhythms when used close to bedtime. The brain thinks the screen light is daylight, and it can shift the body’s sleep rhythm.

Eye care specialists can treat the symptoms of digital eye strain, but there are no studies yet that can prove long-term damage. Some laboratory studies suggest that increased exposure to blue light can damage retinal tissue, but many researchers refute this assertion and claim that electronic devices emit only small amounts of energy.

The effects of too much screen time on your eyes can be easily avoided if you take steps to reduce your eye discomfort. If you notice symptoms developing, you probably aren’t taking the proper precautions. If the simple tips mentioned don’t help you, you could potentially have an underlying eye problem, such as eye muscle imbalance or uncorrected vision, so talk to your primary care provider.

Source: VivaHealth, Susquehannahealth