Digital technology has made great progress in the last 20 years. Mobile devices such as phones, tablets, and computers have invaded almost every aspect of daily life, but how much damage are they doing to your eyes?
Although we are grateful for the blessings of technology, long-term exposure to the light emitted by the screens can cause some eye problems. Your eyes may be adversely affected when you are exposed to the ray of a computer or mobile phone for a long time, especially at night before you go to bed.
Common symptoms of screen over-exposure are eye fatigue and some generalised eye disorders in the later stages.
You may already know the importance of taking short breaks and walk away from the screen for a while in order to protect our eye health.
However it is easy to forget to give your eyes a little break, especially when you have a busy week or a deadline looming. Here are our tips on better eye protection for office workers, and common symptoms assocated with computer vision.
Computer Vision Syndrome
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) develops when yu spend too much time looking at computer or mobile screens. Symptoms vary depending on long-term use of digital devices, and the screen settings that you most commonly use. Common symptoms include:
Tired and Sore Eyes
People who look at mobile devices and computer screens for a long time may experience tiredness and bruising under the eyes as the time lengthens.
In addition, red eye can occur in extreme cases. This is because your eyes dry out the longer you look at bright lights. Over excessive screen time causes your eyes to dry out faster, particularly when looking at a bright screen while sat in poor lighting.
Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of CVS. Rays coming from the digital device cause eye strain which takes its toll on the muscles surrounding your eyes and attached to your head.
Headaches associated with CVS are usually felt at the front, and over the browline. They can be anything from short sharp pains to persistent dull aches.
Blurred Vision
Blurred vision can be seen in people who are exposed to artifical lights for a very long time, and can be a sign of extreme eye fatigue.
Blurred vision is normal as we age, but if you notice your blurred vision progess faster than usual, or you experience any inflammation, you should step away from your devices and speak to your doctor or optician.
Loss of Focus or Difficulty Focusing
Loss of focus and difficulty in focusing is observed in people who work in an office environment and stare at screens throughout their working day.
People who are exposed to long working hours may lose their focus after a certain period of time and have difficulty focusing. Therefore, if you are experiencing such a situation, it would be best to take a short break for both your eyes and your concentration.
When your eye muscles are exposed to the harmful rays, you may experience fatigue and dry eye as your blink rate decreases.
How To Reduce Computer Eye Strain
Eye strain or CVS syndrome are not long-term or permanent with the right care.
If you experience some of the symptoms mentioned above and continue to be exposed to harmful screens, the symptoms may worsen and you may have a decline in eye health.
The 20/20/20 Rule
Taking short breaks while working in screen-intensive jobs can help your eyes rest. In addition, company managers should be encouraged to give their staff short breaks during the working hours to protect eye health.
According to the 20/20/20 rule, if you're looking at the screen for more than 20 minutes, set yourself up to focus on something 20 feet away for around 20 seconds.
In this way, dry eyes and fatigue will be minimized and you will be able to continue your work for longer periods without getting tired eyes.
Reduce The Glare Of Your Screen
Screen brightness is a very important factor when it comes to protecting your eyes from screens. If you work with a bright screen, your eyes may tire more quickly with over exposure.
For this reason, you should keep the screen brightness unit at a minimum level. In this way, you are less exposed to harmful rays coming from the screen. If you wear glasses, you can opt for a screen protection coating on your lens.
Have Regular Eye Examinations
Having eye examinations at regular intervals is very effective in protecting your eye health. At the same time, if you already have defective vision, you can keep it under control and prevent it from worsening.
People who wear glasses or lenses should be more careful in this regard. For this reason, you should visit your optician annually and you should always wear the correct prescription
Children and young people are not immune from CVS and should also be mindful. Tv and computer games can also contribute to deteriorated eye health, and care should be made to make sure that they take regular breaks.
Children should always watch TV or plays games ata distance, same for adults too. This reduces the impact of the screen and helps your eyes to relax and adjust properly.
