You’re blinking less
Typically, you will blink about 18 to 20 times in a minute but when you are looking at a screen, blinks slow down to between eight and ten times per minute. The problem with blinking less is that your eyes get dry. When they get dry, they can become red, itchy and uncomfortable.
You’re getting more blue light
Let’s not forget the effect of blue light on your eyes. Blue light, which emits from the screens of computers, laptops and smart phones, is harmful to your eyes because it has the highest energy wavelength of visible light. This penetrates right through your eyes’ natural filters and over time, this exposure can cause damage to the back of the eyes, increasing the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and permanent vision loss. Staring at a screen also contributes to fatigue, blurred vision, watery eyes and headaches. Are you finding that your sleep is disrupted? It could be the result of too much screen time, especially before bed. It is time to cut back.
Limit screen time
The holidays are almost here. Whether you are staying home or getting away, use the downtime to give your eyes a break. Get off those screens!
Don’t spend more than 30 minutes at a time staring at your phone, tablet or computer. When you are using a digital device, keep it at least 50 to 70 centimeters away from your eyes. Additionally, increase the size of the font on your phone so that your eyes don’t have to strain to focus on very small text. You should also consider an anti-glare screen to prevent glare. This is a good idea, especially if you are reading on a screen outside.
If you are suffering from symptoms like burning and itchy eyes, redness or vision fluctuations, it might be time to invest in accommodative support lenses or blue light control lenses. These are designed support vision and reduce the impact of digital screen use on the eyes.