On average, more than nine in 10 adults (93.3 percent) spend more than two hours each day using a digital device, with more than six in 10 adults (60.8 percent) spending five or more hours on digital devices each day. Whether it's for work or play, using computers, smartphones, tablets and e-readers TV or video games, all that time can take a toll on the eyes and lead to digital eye strain.
Digital eye strain is the physical discomfort felt after two or more hours in front of a digital screen and is associated with the close to mid-range distance of digital screens, including desktop and laptop computers, tablets, e-readers and cell phones. On average, a person going through his or her daily routine blinks about 18 times per minute. However, spending significant amounts of time staring at a screen causes blink rates to reduce, resulting in dry, itchy or burning eyes.
Adults with computer-oriented jobs feel the strain most acutely. A 2014 study found that office workers who spend significant time in front of computer screens and experience eye strain undergo changes in tear fluid similar to people with dry eye disease, creating a physiological change.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIGITAL EYE STRAIN?
- Red, dry or irritated eyes
- Blurred vision
- Eye fatigue
- Back and neck pain
- Headaches
WHAT CAUSES DIGITAL EYE STRAIN?
Digital eye strain is not caused by one isolated event or behavior. Irritation and discomfort can be the result of many issues. Digital devices often feature small print and pixelated images that can be difficult to read and cause our eyes to strain in order to focus. We may also be using the devices improperly by holding them at the wrong angle or too far from our eyes. Blue light, also referred to as high-energy visible (HEV) light, is another cause of digital eye strain. It is emitted by digital devices and increases eye strain more so than other colors that have a longer wavelength. Digital eye strain can also be exacerbated in adults who wear prescription eyewear. This is because the corrective lenses they wear are oftentimes not intended for viewing the mid-distance range of computers and electronics.
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