After enjoying a good read on your Kindle Fire or watching an especially funny cat video on your iPad, do you ever notice a slight ache in your eyes? Maybe some blurred vision? It’s possible your eyes and your electronics aren’t getting along.
Americans are spending more time on digital devices than ever before.
The Vision Council says “more than 83 percent of Americans use digital devices for more than two hours per day.” And, of that 83 percent, “over half (53 percent) report using two devices simultaneously.”
This much blue light and general strain can cause some problems, the most popular of these including:
- Eyestrain
- Dry Eyes
- Blurred Vision
- Headaches
- Neck + Shoulder Pain
Many have become victims of “iPad Neck” or headaches from one too many rounds of Candy Crush. In fact, according to American Refractive Surgery Council (ARSC), “more than 60 percent of Americans” experience such electronic-device-related issues.
Despite this, very few bring up these issues with their eye doctor.
In fact, according to ARSC, this is true with 71 percent of Americans. As a result, most people aren’t aware of the actions they can take to help prevent such issues.
The 20-20-20 rule has become more general knowledge in recent years concerning healthy digital device usage. ARSC sums it up as simply “taking a 20-second break from the screen every 20 minutes and looking at something 20 feet away.”
Other recommendations from The Vision Council include:
- Reducing overhead lighting to eliminate screen glare
- Positioning your computer screen at arm’s length
- Increasing text size on devices
While these are all good tips and tricks to implement into your daily life, it’s still smart to consult with your eye doctor. They may have other advice to help you specifically in your lifestyle.
While it’s nearly impossible to live without electronic devices on a day-to-day basis, it’s still possible to find a healthy balance, for the sake of not only your eye health, but your mental health, too. One person can only handle so many Kanye tweets.
