Did you know that Americans spend a whopping 11-plus hours looking at a screen each day? And these hours are beginning to take their toll, leading to digital eye strain, dry eyes, headaches, and more. At Ideal Family Eye Care, LTD Sylwia Szewczyk, OD & Associates, Sylwia Szewczyk, OD, and Małgorzata Zolnierzow, OD, offer protective eyewear to their Chicago area patients, allowing them to negotiate the digital world with ease. For superior eye protection, call the office in Jefferson Park or use the online booking tool.
Eye Protection From Electronics Q & A
How are screens affecting my eyes?
With Americans spending more time in front of screens than they do sleeping, it’s no wonder that health complications are beginning to crop up. From tech neck to digital eye strain, the effects of staring at a screen for many of your waking hours can take their toll. In fact, The Vision Council reports the following statistics due to the increasing screen time:
- Eye strain — 32.4%
- Dry eyes — 27.2%
- Headaches — 27.7%
- Blurred vision — 27.9%
- Neck and shoulder pain — 35%
Between the glare of the screen and the blue light it emits, the digital world may not be doing your eyes any favors.
What types of protection can I use?
At Ideal Family Eye Care, the optometrists offer protective lenses for patients who spend a considerable amount of time in front of their computers, smartphones, and TVs. The goal of this type of eye protection is to filter out the harmful blue light that screens emit, as well as reduce the reflective glare that comes off many screens.
To get started, your doctor performs a comprehensive eye exam to check the health of your eyes, as well as your visual acuity. They also spend some time reviewing your habits to determine whether your electronic devices may be causing you problems.
If they feel you might benefit from eye protection, they recommend a lens that’s right for your situation.
How can I prevent digital eye strain?
Aside from protective eyewear, there are some things you can do on your own to stave off the effects of extended screen time on your eyes.
First, the 20-20-20 rule is a good one to know. Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen and focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Second, be sure to adjust the glare on your screen to match the room, or match your lighting to your screen. In other words, it’s important that your screen doesn’t produce excessive glare, but blends into your surroundings.
Finally, blink. Dry eye is a common complaint among screen users and it’s largely because you don’t blink enough when you’re staring at a screen.
To protect your eyes from your electronic devices, call Ideal Family Eye Care or use the online booking tool.