Not a day goes by that I am not staring at multiple screens. My fast paced lifestyle mixed with a love of staying connected means utilizing my several digital devices to keep me plugged into what’s happening. Whether it’s browsing my favorite clothing site for a sale, scrolling my social feed or getting caught up on current events, the blue glow of my phone and computer is ever present.
I recently had the pleasure of teaming up with The Vision Council to learn more about Digital Eye Strain. To say that many of us suffer from this new-age issue would be an understatement. With an increase in digital technology, many individuals suffer from physical discomfort after screen use for longer than two hours at a time. The Vision Council refers to this collection of symptoms as digital eye strain. Most days, I find myself exceeding that time and stretching my ocular abilities to its limit.
When I say this problem is wide-spread, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. According to The Vision Council, more than 83 percent of Americans report using digital devices for more than two hours per day, and 53.1 percent report using two digital devices simultaneously, with 60.5 percent report experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain. That’s mobile device game playing, social media scrolling and email reading all wrapped up in one tough habit to break.
Luckily, there are ways to help. For instance, I don’t have to sacrifice style for function when it comes to eyewear. These specialized lenses like the gorgeous Joseph Abboud pair outfitted with VSP’s TechShield Blue lenses I was generously gifted can be incorporated so that we can choose eyewear that complements our personal look, while meeting eye health needs.
In addition to eyewear solutions, other ways to relieve digital eye strain include:
- Following the 20-20-20 rule, taking a 20-second break from the screen every 20 minutes and looking at something 20 feet away
- Reducing overhead lighting to eliminate screen glare
- Positioning yourself at arm’s distance away from the screen for proper viewing distance when at a computer
- Increasing text size on devices to better define content on the screen
You can learn more about digital eye strain by visiting The Vision Council website for more info.
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