The Hidden Impact of Screen Time on Eye Health – And How Contact Lenses Can Help
As it is the era of digital gadgets and according to a survey conducted by the Pakistan Pediatric Association, approximately 80% of children and teenagers spend an average of 4 to 6 hours per day on screens. They have an addiction to using these digital gadgets like smartphone, computer, kindle to do their homeworks, reading or social media browsing. Using these digital gadgets are not bad to use but it is necessary to control screen time to protect your eyes from eye strain and other vision problems. In this blog, we’ll explore the hidden impacts of screen time on eye health and how contact lenses can help alleviate some of the discomfort.
How Screen Time Affects Your Eye Health
We all love screens to watch videos, to do office work, complete our homework and assignments and most likely to scroll social media, we spend a lot of time looking at screens every day. But did you know that all that screen time can hurt your eyes? When we look at screens without a break for extended hours, we don’t blink our eyes for a long time which makes our eyes muscle dry and tired. This condition causes digital eye strain.
What is Digital Eye Strain?
The continually focus on smartphones, computers, laptops or other screens, causes Digital Eye Strain. It is also known as Computer vision syndrome (CSV). The symptoms of red eye, irritation, dryness, blurry vision, headaches, and pain in the neck or shoulder, are due to digital eye strain. This condition is not only annoying but also reduces the 50% blink rate due to which stress is placed on our eyes.So blinking is important because it helps keep our eyes moist. In this condition we must take precautions to relax and moist our eyes.
What are the Causes Of Digital Eye Strain?
- Digital Eye strain is not only caused due to long screen time.Several other reasons make the symptoms worse.
- Poor lighting causes work harder to focus.
- Glare on a digital screen, making it difficult for eyes to adjust properly.
- Improper viewing distances force eyes to strain to see clearly.
- Poor sitting posture, leading to neck and eye pain.
- Uncontrolled vision problems make the screen focus and cause additional stress.
What Is Blue Light and Why Does It have significant importance?
Digital devices such as smartphones, TVs and computers emit blue lights. Some other sources of blue lights are fluorescent lights, LED lights, tablets and e-readers. The blue light tired your eyes and disrupts the sleep pattern. This is the main cause of digital eye strain. Blue lights do not cause eye dropsy or blurred eyes, but it is associated with discomfort and can contribute to long -term issues such as macular degeneration that is not good for your eye health. If you look at your phone late at night, blue lights can keep you awake for a long time. Too much blue light from screens at night can cause:
- Problems with your sleep schedule
- Cause Sleep disruption
- Waking up in the middle of the night
- Feeling tired the next day
How Can I Avoid Blue Light?
To avoid blue lights, you will not stop using your equipment. You can use a blue light filter on your devices. Many new smartphones, tablets and computers are manufactured in options to reduce blue lights. You can also wear blue light blocking glass or choose contact lenses that are made in blue light protection to further reduce the exposure.
Although it may not always be possible to completely avoid blue light after dark, there are many easy ways to reduce your risk and improve your sleep. Start making it a habit: Set an alarm to remind you to close electronics two to three hours before sleeping. If you enjoy reading in bed, try to switch to a lamp that turns off red or orange light instead of blue light. You can also reduce the screen brightness of your device or use the “night mode” found on many devices to reduce blue lights. If you actually need to use your equipment before bed, then apps are available that can help reduce blue light emissions on both smartphones and computers. Finally, if you have mild sources in your bedroom that you cannot close or slow, consider wearing an eye mask to block them once on the bed.
Simple Tips to Reduce Eye Stress from the Screen
Observe the 20-20-20 Rule
Sore sensations of the eyes also follow the marathon screen use. But a simple way to help them is to follow the 20-20-20 rule that says that you stare at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds with alternating gaze. This simple exercise alone relieves some stress from the eyes and helps it feel relaxed and happy.
Adjust Proper Screen Distance and Position
A monitor should not be directly in front of you but at the length of the span of your hand in front of you. Position the screen above or even with your topmost eye level to lessen the stress upon your eyes and neck. Moreover, see to it that the bright intensity of the screen is at the level it should be. Bright screen, dim light on the room-then our eyes, therefore, do more work for them than is needed.
Stay Hydrated and Blink Your Eyes
Eyes naturally become moist with enough blinking and thereby help in the avoidance of irritation and dryness. This is very vital for those wearing contact lenses. The intake of enough water distributed over the day adequately hydrates the eyes as well as assures comfort. It is an aspect people choose to ignore, especially when viewing screens all day long.
How Contact Lenses Can Help with Digital Eye Stress
Contact Lenses Designed for Screen Use
The lenses are especially for those who spend hours looking at a screen. Such lenses provide benefits to hold back the onset of dry eyes and ease discomfort when looking at a screen for long hours. They are designed using moisture seal technology that provides long lasting hydrations for digital device users.
Contact Lenses for Moisture Retention
Dry eyes are one of the most frequent complaints associated with wearing contact lenses; especially true for contact lens wearers, have to deal with terrible dry eyes, particularly if they are technology dependent on using screens more frequently. It could be a significant difference in comfort with a more moisture retaining contact lens. Modern lenses are specially produced for keeping eyes moist and comfortable despite prolonged exposure to screens.
Advantages of Daily Disposable Lenses for Screen Users
For extended time using contact lenses, daily disposes could be an answer. Daily disposable contact lenses really are a fresh pair of lenses every single day, thus providing convenience and great opportunity in decreasing the possibility of irritating conditions. They do not need cleaning and storage, making them ideally suited for busy professionals or for anyone spending a long time before a screen.
Choose the Best Contact Lenses for Screen Time Comfort
The very first consideration when selecting contact lenses for the management of digital eye strain is the assessment of the various options for hydration, ultraviolet protection, and the levels of breathability. Most patients who suffer from the effects of screen time like the silicone hydrogel material because it actually provides a fair oxygen flow towards the cornea and diminishes dryness and irritation.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Contact Lenses
Here are some most careful considerations while searching for a contact lens that works against strain in the eyes, such as:
- High moisture retention: High moisture sustaining may mean greater comfort over a longer time when staring at the screen.
- Breathability: The lens should have an important feature, which the oxygen can diffuse towards your eyes, which should have mouth space.
- UV Protection: The best UV filter lenses can also contribute to even more harmful rays protection for the eye.
- Proper Fit: All fitting requires effort with lenses because otherwise, disappointment and irritation take over.
Other Ways to Protect Your Eyes During Screen Time
Environmental Adjustments for Eye Comfort
An ergonomically friendly workspace reduces eye strain. Make use of ambient lighting to avoid glare, and match the brightness of your screen according to the room light. Position your screen so that it is not a reflection causing harsh direct light and glare into your eyes.
Take Regular Breaks from Screens
Follow the 20-20-20 rule, consider taking regular breaks from the screen. Stand up and stretch, give your tired eyes some rest. This will not only relieve your eyes but also improve your posture and reduce neck and back pain from desk sitting.
The Future of Eye Care in a Digital World
Smart Contact Lenses and Emerging Technologies
The future of eye care is full of promising innovations, such as smart contact lenses designed to improve vision and comfort. These lenses may also include the possibility of technology applied for monitoring the well-being of the eye, automatic adjusting of focus, or even glare reduction coming from a computer screen that these lenses could work on to provide an even more individualized therapy, within the future of digital eye strain.
Conclusion
Indeed, as the amount of time spent on screens goes up, the effects become more on eye health. One more thing concerns digital eye strain; however, things could be done with the right strategies and tools that can include specialized contact lenses to save eyes from impacts of proscenium use. Don’t undergo pains from usage. Seek advice from an eye care professional for the best options available for you.
Adopting these simple little measures-in changing your screen setup, but not limited to, considering the 20-20-20 rule and perhaps the selection of contact lenses- can be hugely effective in carving a more comfortable existence and a vision-protecting future in a digital world.
