Staring at Your Screen All Day Might Be Bad for Your Eyes…

In this day and age, it can seem impossible to go more than just a few waking hours (if you’re strong) without looking at some kind of screen. Whether you’re glued to your computer at the office, watching TV with family in the evening, or doom-scrolling through your favourite social media app, many of us spend a significant amount of our lives in front of a screen. Yet, it is unlikely that you often stop and think about how this affects your eyes.

Social Media – a purpose-built magnet

Social media sites have now been around for decades. But they have come a long way since the early days of MySpace and Facebook, with many people racking up hours online every day. This is largely thanks to the increased accessibility that comes with our pocket-portable computers (that is, our mobile phones). However, it is also important to remember that our favourite social media apps often keep us scrolling by design.

With endless scroll settings (just keep going!), we are programmed to keep consuming content to no end. This can prove troublesome for our life and sleep schedules. Moreover, growing research is increasingly linking social media use to mental health problems, stress, and low self-esteem. But it can also contribute to physical health concerns, particularly for our eyes.

Straining to see the latest posts

Spending a lot of time on our screens can lead to Digital Eye Strain – also known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). These are not terms for one problem, in particular, but rather for several common problems that occur as a result of excessive screen use.

It is believed that around 88% of people aged 18 to 39 experience symptoms of CVS, which can include dry eyes, eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain. As you might expect, these symptoms tend to worsen the more time you spend focused on screens. But while CVS can turn into a complex condition, the solution is often simple: Cut down your screen time!

That includes time spent scrolling through Instagram, TikTok or whatever your chosen social media channel may be. With the long-term health of your eyes at risk, surely it’s worth limiting the doom-scrolling! Unfortunately, this is often more difficult than we might think. In fact, studies have shown that many of us are addicted to social media. But there are some simple tricks you can apply to try and reduce your screen time.

The 20:20:20 Rule

The 20:20:20 rule is a simple but effective method that prompts you to take regular breaks from your screens. You should aim to take a 20-second break from your screen every 20 minutes to focus on something 20 feet away. This gives your eyes a break from straining to focus on your screen and allows them to refocus on objects at different distances.

To make this trick more effective, you can combine it with other methods for combating CVS, such as installing a blue light filter on your devices, adjusting text size and the contrast of your screens, and reducing overhead lighting to eliminate screen glare.

When staring at screens, as many of us often find ourselves doing, our eyes are pushed to their limits. The constant refocusing on different texts and images can cause significant strain that can lead to the development of significant issues. It can even accelerate the ageing of the eyes and have a long-term impact on the health of your vision. Implementing the 20:20:20 rule and the other tips mentioned here can help to ensure you have clear and healthy vision for years to come.

Social media has quickly become one of the most useful aspects of the connected world. It plays a vital role in keeping us connected with loved ones and strangers alike, provides businesses, large and small, with impressive advertising opportunities, and, of course, gives us endless entertainment. But it is also important to acknowledge the less positive sides of our favourite platforms and the devices we view them on.

Having discovered the harmful side effects of such technologies, we’re now in the position to make a change for the good of ourselves, our kids, and future generations — before it’s too late. So, remember to keep note of how much time you’re spending on those screens, and implement some regular breaks – your eyes will thank you!

If you’d like to learn more tips for maintaining healthy eyes or would like to discuss the treatments available at London Vision Clinic, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators. Alternatively, Book a Consultation today to discover how we could help you!