Screen Time, Eyesight and Others

Eye strain is the first symptom that you're overworking your eyes. When your eyes feel dry and burning all the time, it's called eye strain. It is best to give your eyes a break if you are suffering from this illness. Long hours spent in front of the computer, desktop or laptop can cause our eyesight to be overused. And when that happens to the eyes, signs can show up such as red eyes, strained eyes, headaches and eyestrain.

How do you think screen time affects a person eyesight wise?

I think the truth of the matter is it does influence vision. I’m not saying this as a myth but for many researchers have shown us that it does impact it, because what happens is that from too much use of electronics and other devices, your eyes get strained, and you become very near-sighted. It impacts vision especially at a young age. Because at a young age, your eyes are still developing and getting so used to looking at too many devices causes that development to slow down.

A lot of kids today are becoming nearsighted or even far-sighted; this is because of the amount of time they spend on electronics. You don’t want your child to become nearsighted or even get lazy on the development process because they are always on their mobile phone or watching television. So, this should be monitored by parents and caregivers.

There is no doubt that technology has become part of our daily lives, and we don't realize how much time we spend in front of our screens. Screens have even made it to our bedrooms and to our faces. Phones are set up right beside the bed, and we look at them every night before sleeping. Don't tell me that you've never done that.

Too many screens and too little life. That’s the concern I hear from parents. Their kids are spending too much time on their phones, tablets and computers, and not enough time engaging with the world around them. True, screens are great at what they do: keeping us entertained, informed, even in touch with distant relatives. But it is also true that children’s growing dependency on screens doesn’t sit well with parents. It leaves them feeling worried and guilty because they know that screen time has a darker side.

The problem is the underlying message screens promote. Screens are the purveyors of an enticing but narrow vision of the world, one that reinforces an unsatisfied state of endless wanting. For example, social media encourages users to continually show off their awesome lives through perfect selfies and carefully curated feed of friends who seem to be living glamorous lives.

Kids who spend  a lot of time in front of screens are "more likely to suffer behavior difficulties," according to a recent study done by the American Pediatric Association. While this is encouraging for parents whose children spend too much time in front of the internet, it is also a warning to any company who is planning on building their online video strategy solely on the platform.

We must remember that children are very susceptible to distractions. Just take a look at how many kids stare into the electronic devices and wonder what's so intriguing about it. With that said, it is important to note that electronic devices are not the enemy. In fact, they can be very useful if utilized properly.

Overuse of computers, laptops and other technology has led to strain on our eyesight. Using the computer for long hours can cause eye fatigue, blurred vision, headaches and backaches. Hear are Some tips on protecting your eyes from the harmful effects of screen time:

• Take frequent breaks from the computer/laptop

• Exercise

• Eat foods that are anti-oxidants rich

• Try not to use the computer near sources of heat or light as this can damage your eyes.

Also, remember to protect your eyes with wraparound sunglasses if you are driving in a hot car without air conditioning. 

• Wear contact lenses correctly

• Do not blink when holding the device closer to your face

• Get enough sleep at night to avoid feeling tired and irritable during the day

• If you have strained vision, visit an optometrist and let him/her check if there’s a need for glasses or not

There is a saying that ‘The eyes are the window to the soul’. The fact is, your eyes are a very complex organ, and they can be affected by all the external factors: light, heat, dust and smoke. However, what may really hurt your eyes is staring at the computer screens, desktops or laptops for long hours at a time.

Take care of your eyesight.