Every year on the second Thursday of October is celebrated as World Day of Sight (WSD) to create awareness about vision impairment and blindness Eyes are the most important and delicate part of our body; Therefore, it becomes imperative to protect our eyes and ensure their healthy functioning. This year’s theme is #LoveYourEyes.
The pandemic has brought many changes in people’s lives including increase in online classes, work from home, social networking, online meetings and webinars. The use of electronic devices has become an essential part of life.
Dr. Priyanka Singh (MBBS, MS, DNB, FAICO), Director and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Neytra Eye Centre, New Delhi says, “The total screen time is the combined hours of laptop, computer, TV, phone and tablet usage. 24 Hours The eye disease caused by these is known as computer vision syndrome (CVS) or digital eye strain (DES).
Those affected are mostly adults who have long working hours and children with more free time on screens.
“Digital eye strain can present as blurred vision for near objects, headache, eye strain, burning, foreign body sensation, itching, water and intolerance to light,” says Dr. Vidya. C., MBBS, MS, FPOS, FAICO, Consultant, Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore.
how does it affect the eyes
Whenever we are looking at the screen, the ciliary muscles of our eye are constantly working to keep the near vision clear. When this close work goes on for a long time, it leads to convulsions, which are followed by muscle fatigue that leads to eye strain and problems with concentrating.
“Prolonged staring at the screen also causes dryness of the eyes and radiation-induced damage to the ocular surface. Poor surrounding lighting, posture, and pre-existing refractive error also exacerbate the condition,” says Dr. Singh.
He stressed on keeping a close watch on the following symptoms of Digital Eye Strain (DES), which include:
- Eye pain and fatigue
- foreign body sensation in the eye
- watery and itchy eyes
- dry eyes
- blurred vision after some time
- headache and neck pain
Harmful Effects of Prolonged Screen Time
- Instability and change in the power of glasses
- allergic conjunctivitis
- sleep deprivation
- Decreased brain development in children
- decrease in social activities
Dr Vidya. c. Below is a list of some tips to ensure balanced screen time:
- Correct Screen Placement: The screen should be placed slightly below eye level.
• Screen size: It is better to use larger screens and keep them out of sight as much as possible. A desktop computer is highly recommended for kids rather than a tablet or smartphone.
• Adjust illumination and screen brightness: This is important, as looking at a screen that is brighter than the surroundings can strain the eyes.
• The 20-20-20 rule: After 20 minutes on the computer, shift the eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds to reduce eye strain.
• Sitting posture and chair position are important: It is always better to sit in a chair with a desk suitable for screen work.
• Try to promote outdoor activities for children
• Keep screen time to a minimum as possible.
• Have regular eye exams to rule out associated refractive errors as they can increase digital eye strain.
Overall, with digital devices becoming a priority in our daily lives, it is important to balance screen time for our healthy eyes and wellbeing.
Dr Priyanka Singh suggests, “Although the complete treatment is to remove the offending factor, these measures can reduce the effect on the eyes and symptoms to some extent”.
- Limit child screen time to a maximum of 2 hours a day.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule i.e. take a break of 20 seconds every 20 minutes and watch from 20 feet away.
- Keep the screen at least an arm’s length away
- Do not look at the screen with the room light turned off.
- Blink frequently to avoid dry eyes
- improve sitting and posture
- Routine eye exams to detect refractive errors
- Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids
If you suffer from DES, show it to an ophthalmologist. The eye specialist will check your refractive error, convergence, dryness, and eye allergies. They may prescribe lubricants and antiallergic eyedrops. In case of severe problem, avoidance of screens for a few days and supplements to relax the eye muscles may be suggested.
Excessive use of screen is always harmful. Effective measures to maintain not only eye health but overall health are restricting its use.
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