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The world is increasingly being infused into digital devices. Evidently, there’s increased use of digital devices, notably, smart phones, laptop, tablet, television and several other internet-enabled devices, for day-to-day human interactions.
Undoubtedly, these devices have enhanced efficiency and redefined lifestyle of the world population. It’s reported that larger percentage of global population spend over 80 per cent of their day facing and interacting with electronic devices, either chatting, working, gaming and doing other sorts of things, and in the process, expose themselves to the dangers of emissions that have negative impact on the eyes.
In 2020, the world was, unexpectedly, struck by COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in global lockdown. The experience forced businesses and services that hitherto hesitated, to brace the digitalization.
These days, virtually all services including health care services, job recruitment, education programmes and several other activities including corporate meetings, have been moved to various digital platforms.
Human And Digital Device
It’s also reported that, in average, some adults spend eight to nine hours of their day on digital devices which has become unavoidable because of the increased penetration of technology that has made it mandatory to interact and interface with devices.
Lately, many people without prior eye challenges are coming down with different eye challenges. These are cumulative effect of years of activities that are unhealthy to the eyes.
However, there are more concerns on the fact that children are not left out. It’s evident that many children, teenagers and adolescents are surprisingly coming down with severe eye challenges.
The danger ahead
Optometrists predicted that in few years times, more people might come down with different eye challenges because of increased interactions in digital spaces. People spend several hours facing screens of digital devices.
However, some measures have been highlighted that can be taken to protect the eyes from the “holocaust” that might befall the world soon, as predicted by Optometrists under the umbrella of National Optometry Association (NOA).
Computer vision syndrome
If you have this challenge, please present yourself to the doctor for comprehensive eye examination. This is diagnosed by an optometrist. In doing the diagnosis, the doctor (optometrist) is expected to take decision base on a detailed health history and a comprehensive eye examination. The doctor is expected to check if any medication, health or environmental factor could have contributed to the patient’s eye challenge.
Digital eye strain
Digital eye strain is a group of related eye and vision problems caused by prolonged use of digital devices as listed above. The symptoms could be eye fatigue, dry eye, headache, blurry vision, eye strain, double vision, Itchy, red and teary eyes, neck and shoulder pain.
Please note that whenever you look at a digital screen, your eyes work so hard to focus because the texts on the screen are not as sharp as those on a printed page. Also, digital screens come with glare, making the eyes work extra hard to focus clearly.
Preventive steps
Be mindful of the blue light emission from digital devices that are used for regular day-to-day activities. Sadly, these emissions have negative effects on the eye health. Excess blue light can lead to macular degeneration by bypassing the pupil and cornea to beam directly into the retina.
Usage of digital devices has become inevitable in today’s world, hence it’s important that some measures are taken to protect the eyes from dangerous emissions from these digital devices.
It’s important to activate the eye comfort services in digital devices, especially smart mobile phones. Virtually all smart phones are embedded with “eye comfort” services. Please locate it in your phone and activate it.
In addition to that, put your phone or digital devices brightness on auto. This will enable it to work base on the brightness on the day.
Additional steps
It’s important to adjust the digital devices by placing them some meters away from the eyes, tilt backwards, and slightly below eye level. Also adjust the settings by increasing brightness, contrast and font size
Please practice the 20-20-20 game. This means that after every 20 minutes of using any digital device, look at a distance 20 feet away from the device for about 20 seconds. Blinking often will help prevent eyes from drying out.
In addition, the screen glare should be reduced by cutting off unwanted bright lights. Shut windows and curtains; dim bright lights; add screen glare filter to computer; adjust posture by using chairs with appropriate height and good back support; sit upright with feet flat on the floor; or tilt forward; or move head up or down to see the computer clearly.
Artificial tears or lubricants help with dry eyes, glasses are very helpful too but that will be based on doctor’s recommendation/prescription. If there is refractive error, it’s advised that one should wear adequate prescription glasses or contact lens when using the computer or digital screen.
Also, blue light filtering lenses, photochromic lenses and lenses with anti-reflective coating should be used to reduce glare and the magnitude of blue light entering into the eyes.
Conclusion
But in all, consult a professional health work if the case(s) continues for a comprehensive eye examination. This is because most of the symptoms, if left untreated, could lead to more complicated vision threatening conditions.
