Nine hours per day -- that's how much
time the average American spends in front of cell phone, tablet,
computer or television screens. All that screen time is causing eye
strain and other vision problems, according to a new report by the
Vision Council, a nonprofit trade association.
Researchers surveyed more than 7,000 people and found that screen time is steadily increasing for kids and adults. Over the past year, the number of people who admitted spending 10 hours per day on electronic devices rose 4 percent.
“Nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults experience
digital eye strain as a result of the growing use of these devices," the researchers wrote in the report. "Adults aged 18 to 34 report feeling eye strain at a higher rate (45 percent) than their older counterparts.”
Constantly staring at a screen can lead to a host of problems, said Douglas Lazzaro, MD, professor and chairman in the Department of Ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“The longer you look at a computer screen, the more eye strain you tend to have, which can cause headaches,” Dr. Lazzaro said. “We also tend to blink a lot less when we’re looking at a screen, and when we blink less, we dry out our eyes.”
“Some people believe that staring at a screen can change your vision and cause you to become more nearsighted. It’s controversial, but some evidence has shown that to be the case,” Dr. Busignye said.
The typical kid growing up today gets more than 8 hours of daily screen time, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the number of hours will probably only increase as they get older. We are seeing the first ever generation of kids who have spent their entire lives staring at computer screens, Lazzaro said.
“We’re going to have a generation of people who are going to have all types of eye problems,” he predicted. “My nephew looks at an iPad or smartphone all the time, and he has constant headaches and dry eyes.”
So how do you fix the problem? It’s as simple as walking away, said Busignye.
“Taking a break and looking away and blinking a lot is important,” she said. “Walking away will give your eyes times to lubricate and adjust.”
A couple of computer tweaks can help too, according to Lazzaro said. “Increasing font size provides some benefit, so you’re not struggling to see the screen,” he said. “There are certain types of protection you can put on screens, such as filters, to cut down on glare, which can also help reduce eye strain.”
“But make you take a break for at least 10 minutes every hour,” he added. “It’s a simple and easy way to protect your eyesight.”
Researchers surveyed more than 7,000 people and found that screen time is steadily increasing for kids and adults. Over the past year, the number of people who admitted spending 10 hours per day on electronic devices rose 4 percent.
“Nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults experience
digital eye strain as a result of the growing use of these devices," the researchers wrote in the report. "Adults aged 18 to 34 report feeling eye strain at a higher rate (45 percent) than their older counterparts.”
Constantly staring at a screen can lead to a host of problems, said Douglas Lazzaro, MD, professor and chairman in the Department of Ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“The longer you look at a computer screen, the more eye strain you tend to have, which can cause headaches,” Dr. Lazzaro said. “We also tend to blink a lot less when we’re looking at a screen, and when we blink less, we dry out our eyes.”
This
dryness can cause burning and itching, said Jacqueline Busingye, MD,
assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at
Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, and research has shown staring at
screens can cause long-term vision problems.
“Some people believe that staring at a screen can change your vision and cause you to become more nearsighted. It’s controversial, but some evidence has shown that to be the case,” Dr. Busignye said.
The typical kid growing up today gets more than 8 hours of daily screen time, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the number of hours will probably only increase as they get older. We are seeing the first ever generation of kids who have spent their entire lives staring at computer screens, Lazzaro said.
“We’re going to have a generation of people who are going to have all types of eye problems,” he predicted. “My nephew looks at an iPad or smartphone all the time, and he has constant headaches and dry eyes.”
So how do you fix the problem? It’s as simple as walking away, said Busignye.
“Taking a break and looking away and blinking a lot is important,” she said. “Walking away will give your eyes times to lubricate and adjust.”
A couple of computer tweaks can help too, according to Lazzaro said. “Increasing font size provides some benefit, so you’re not struggling to see the screen,” he said. “There are certain types of protection you can put on screens, such as filters, to cut down on glare, which can also help reduce eye strain.”
“But make you take a break for at least 10 minutes every hour,” he added. “It’s a simple and easy way to protect your eyesight.”