Heavy reliance on screens has become commonplace in our modern lives.
From day jobs which require 8-hours of continuous digital display exposure to leisure activities like scrolling social media, 13 hours and 2 minutes has become the average daily swiping, scrolling and clicking.
And to no surprise, 92% of people admit to using more than one device simultaneously.
The bigger issue here lies with our decreasing blink rate when we are focused on these devices — meaning our eyes are not receiving the necessary hydration from tear film so often required for lubrication.
Such prolonged periods of excessive screen time can turn out to be particularly detrimental when performing said activities in the dark.
The flickering light levels found frequently in TV shows or movies leads your sight to adjust continuously to the various dark and bright frames while simultaneously overworking the eyes and their muscles — hence causes eye strain.
It is true that many go to cinemas knowing that they’d have to sit through a dark theatre, however this is not without its side effects of visual discomfort when it comes to prolonged exposure.
A great way to minimize excess strain while partaking in evening entertainment as well as prolonged workday engagements with screens is by using something termed “bias lighting”.
This is achieved by simply having lamps switched on nearby or by installing a specialized lamp behind the TV consistently reducing lighting contrast between the digital display and its environment.
When one knows how does eye strain manifest itself, it further allows for monitoring of our overall eye health and the implementation of preventative means for better vision preservation.
How can you prevent screen-induced eye strain?
The key signs of eyestrain include tiredness similar to that after a sleepless night, a burning sensation, watering eyes, unclear vision, and a tenderness towards light.
Fortunately, alleviating such symptoms may easily be done by simply paying attention during use and consciously blinking more often (by squeezing tightly).
The 20/20/20 rule has also been helpful to many concerned with avoiding possible strain — look away towards something that is 20 feet away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds or less.
Finally, measures such as wearing blue light glasses or screen covers made specifically designed to reduce glare can also be taken into consideration before exposing one’s eyes comfortably yet effectively.
For more information, visit our eye clinic near bole, Addis Ababa.
