Blue light emanates from all the devices and even from LED TV, lamps, etc. Most of us have no idea about it and are using technology devices for so many hours without worrying about our eyes.
I had never realized that long-term exposure to blue light may damage the retina and could quicken long-term vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Blue light also disrupts our sleep by suppressing the natural release of melatonin.
It reminds me of my story. I was a Diet Technician/Supervisor and most of my job was on computers to work on the next day's menu for all the patients. I had to look up on the screen, then look down for papers, and look back up on the screen. This continuously used to happen for a number of hours. Moreover, I used my phone to check any important messages, which adds another screen. All these jobs require a lot of effort from eye muscles, eyes are reacting to the changing images in front of the eyes. To make things worsen the screen adds contrast, flicker and glare. It affects a lot of people by not only one problem of digital eye strain, but it encompasses a variety of issues related to eye pain like fatigue, dry eyes, blurred vision, etc. I have experienced some symptoms myself when I sit in front of the devices for the whole day and don’t give rest to my eyes.
Few more facts that were shocking to me about women, that women are more likely to do more than the men.
- 70% of women who are experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain are using multiple devices.
- Women use two or more screens at the same time,
- Women are more likely to check devices before bed.
Another interesting fact is about children, that they may be using the workstations that are set up for adults, which can contribute to their eye strain symptoms. The computer screen should be adjusted to the child’s height. They may also have difficulty reaching the keyboard or placing their feet on the ground, as a result, they can have neck and back pain.
Computer work gets harder as we age, lenses in our eyes become less flexible. If we are working more than two hours a day on the computer, then it’s something to consider because eye strain comes from repetitive exposure. It can get worse if it goes unchecked for long period. We need to go to the eye care professional if we are experiencing any symptom or even if know that we are spending more time on devices. Because the influence of technology goes beyond our eyes. It affects our productivity, sleep habits (use of devices before bedtime, activates our brain and disrupts sleep patterns) and posture neck and back pain (leaning towards computers and slouching on chairs affect our posture resulting in the neck and back pain.).
There are many solutions to overcome digital eye strain. We can use different kinds of lenses and lens treatments and filters to combat eye strain. There are occupational lenses also known as computer eyewear that we can use with or without prescription. We can also use the anti-reflective coating, amber/yellow filters, or HEV filters or coatings. These lenses and filters are customized to reduce blurriness and pixelation, decrease brightness and minimize glare during prolonged use of devices.
Overall to sum it up, we know that we are surrounded by technology and it’s difficult for us to limit our screen time. We should be mindful of our posture, and look away from screen periodically. Additionally, we should get our eyes checked and eye care provider can provide a vision plan based on our lifestyle.
REFERENCES
https://medium.com/the-mission/digital-eye-strain-is-destroying-your-eyes-4ac7f8e87b24,
