Screens and eye strain: what is the link?
Screens and eye strain
The majority of people use digital devices for at least two hours a day. Many users far exceed this usage time. In fact, a growing proportion of people (70%) view multiple screens simultaneously.
And this has direct effects on our health. According to a survey conducted by the Vision Council (USA) of 10,000 adults who use screens, 65% experience eye strain. After looking at at least one screen for several hours, respondents reported physical discomfort such as dry and irritated eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and neck or back pain.
Users of a single screen were less affected than those who viewed multiple screens simultaneously. Indeed, among those using only one screen, 53% experienced symptoms of eye strain. This figure rises to 75% among those viewing multiple screens at the same time. While eye strain can potentially affect anyone spending hours in front of a screen, young adults in their twenties are the most affected age group, representing 73% of those experiencing the problem. According to Justin Bazan, optometrist and medical advisor to the Vision Council, young people in this age group have been accustomed to screens and connected devices from a very young age, making them more comfortable working in front of multiple screens simultaneously. As an example, Bazan points out that by using a smartphone as an alarm clock, "you are looking at the screen of a connected device the very second you open your eyes," even before you turn on your laptop screen.
Proximity to the screen is one of the causes of eye strain experienced after using digital devices. In most cases, the user sits close to the screen, which tends to reduce the number of times they blink. J. Bazan explains that "blinking is essential to protect the surface of the eye from particles in our environment and prevent dryness. Reducing the number of blinks can lead to irritation and dryness of the eyes, as well as vision problems."
Furthermore, blue light is another determining factor. According to J. Bazan, "this light has characteristics similar to ultraviolet rays, which have been known for years to be harmful to the cells of the eyes. Preliminary research indicates that blue light, like UV rays, can damage the cells inside our eyes and the retinal cells responsible for vision." Moreover, fluorescent lights and LEDs, often very bright, mounted on office ceilings or inside homes, further increase the amount of blue light entering our eyes.
Why does this affect our eyes so much? J. Bazan offers the following explanation: "When we look at ink on a sheet of paper, our eyes know precisely how far away the ink and the paper are, and we can thus focus correctly."
Conversely, the pixels visible on a screen are more difficult for our eyes to focus on. He adds, "Since a pixel is a difficult target, our focusing system works continuously to understand precisely where that pixel is located. This constant concentration is a source of fatigue."
Since giving up screens altogether is unthinkable, how can we protect our eyes? One solution is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. This method involves alternating 20 minutes of screen time with 20 seconds of looking at something 6 meters away to rest your eyes. Alternatively, you can choose glasses with a specific treatment (anti-blue light), which help relieve eye strain by reducing the screen's brightness and filtering out blue light. Finally, it's advisable to position yourself about an arm's length away from your screen.
In any case, if you focus daily on digital screens for several hours at a time, make sure you protect your eyes, as you will be using them throughout your life.
In short,
The symptoms of this eye strain are:
- Eye strain.
- Dry eyes.
- A blurred vision.
- Redness of the eye.
- A burning sensation.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Headaches.
- Pain in the shoulders, neck and back.
Their causes are as follows:
- Poor lighting.
- A reflection on the computer or tablet screen.
- A poor quality computer or tablet screen (e.g., poor resolution, blurry image, etc.).
- An incorrect distance from the screen.
- Poor sitting posture.
- Vision problems that are not being corrected.
- The ambient air is too dry.
- The movement of air.
- A combination of all these factors.
What can be done to improve the problem?
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle (good diet, dietary supplements if needed, avoid sleepless nights, alcohol and cigarettes).
- Don't stay indoors and engage in regular physical activity.
- Check the ambient air humidity level (ideally between 40 and 65%), use a humidifier if necessary.
- Organize your workstation to have a good position in relation to the screen.
- Optimize your environment (clean screen, good brightness, etc.).
- Keep your eyes hydrated by blinking or using artificial tears (ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice).
- Take regular breaks "away" from screens.
- Do eye exercises (alternate between far and near vision, consult an orthoptist if needed).
At the house of At Phytocea , we have developed nutraceuticals, ORetine and OMEGA+ , designed to maintain eye health, prevent the effects of UV and blue light, and reduce eye strain. To achieve this, we relied on numerous scientific studies, including benchmark studies. AREDS and AREDS 2 .
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Digital Screens and Eye Strain
