What Happens to Your Eyes When You Look at the Screen All Day
We spend a lot of time looking at screens. We have a small screen in our pocket, a large screen where we watch our shows, and a medium screen that many of us watch for eight hours a day to help pay for other screens. Do all these screens spoil your eyes?
Probably not, although there are many rumors. If you grew up with large tube TVs, you probably remember being told that sitting too close will ruin your eyes. Scientific American attributes this myth to the 1967 recall of the first color televisions that emitted radiation (such as real radiation ) that were likely to be harmful to health, as well as a misunderstanding about nearsighted children sitting next to the television. Most likely, they sat closer to better see; the TV did not cause them to be nearsighted.
As for the different sized screens we look at all day, there are several new myths (and facts!) About how they affect our vision.
Eye strain is real
Watching screens for too long can cause eye strain, but eye strain has been around long before screens. (Another reason is driving long distances, the Mayo Clinic notes .) Eye strain can be due to fatigue of tiny muscles around and around the eyes, and people who experience eye strain may experience discomfort, including headaches, blurred vision. lacrimation and increased sensitivity. ignite.
Eye strain from viewing a screen is called digital eye strain or sometimes “computer vision syndrome.” Eye strain can be caused or worsened by other vision problems, such as hyperopia or astigmatism, that have not been corrected. In such cases, the correct treatment (for example, glasses) can help.
Eye strain is often temporary, and you may feel better if you look away from your computer screen from time to time while you work. But if you frequently experience eye fatigue, or if it seems to be getting worse, see your eye doctor so you can correct any underlying issues.
Blue light from screens does not spoil the eyes
It is rumored that blue light from smartphones (or other screens) can impair your vision, possibly even lead to blindness, but this is not supported by the evidence. “The amount of light coming from a computer has never been proven to cause any eye disease,” says the American Academy of Ophthalmology in an article on its website recommending glasses that block blue light.
There is research that finds blue light can damage cells in certain laboratory conditions, but these conditions are very different from what happens in real cells in our retina. We dug into this myth here , noting that AAO emphasized that – in their words – “[b] LUE light from electronic screens does not make you blind.”
Unfortunately, there are companies that cite research like this to sell their blue light blocking glasses or screen protectors, but they don’t sell a solution to the real problem.
Blue light can affect your health and sleep, but blue light isn’t just about screens
Blue light from screens has gotten a bad reputation for interfering with sleep, but remember your rosy facts from elementary school: Blue light is only a fraction of white light. For example, you are getting a lot of blue light from the sun.
Blue light blocking filters also don’t block very much blue light; they just shrink it a little. (Experts noted that you can get the same effect by moving the screen one inch away from your face.) Avoiding using screens before bed is probably a good idea, but not because there is something particularly damaging about the screens themselves.
How to take care of your eyes when you look at screens
When you spend time in front of screens – of any kind – the rule of thumb for eye health is the 20-20-20 rule. Take a 20 second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away. This could mean looking out the hallway or window, or you can get extra credit, get up and take a walk in the fresh air. Allowing your eyes to focus on different things can help eliminate the monotony that can cause eye strain.
We also tend to blink less when looking at something for a long time, so if your eyes feel dry when you look at the screen all day, use a few eye drops. (Look for those labeled “artificial tears”.)
And don’t forget to take care of your eyes outdoors as well. Ultraviolet light from the sun can damage your eyes for a long time, so wear sunglasses that are labeled “100% UV” or “UV400” or that indicate UVA and UVB protection. A hat can also help. The effects of blue light are still being studied, but we know that UV light increases the risk of cataracts and other eye diseases. So make sure you take care of your eyes at all times, not just when you’re in front of a screen.