Introduction
Welcome to our blog post!
In today's digital age, it is almost impossible to escape the screens that dominate our lives. Whether it's our smartphones, tablets, computers, or televisions, we find ourselves constantly glued to these devices. While they have undoubtedly made our lives easier and more connected, there can also be some negative effects associated with excessive screen time.
The Growing Concern: Dry Eyes
One common complaint among individuals who spend significant amounts of time in front of screens is dry eyes. This condition, known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) or digital eye strain, is characterized by dryness, redness, irritation, and blurred vision.
Understanding the Mechanism
Excessive screen time can lead to dry eyes due to various factors:
- Reduced Blink Rate: When we focus on screens, our blink rate decreases significantly, causing the tears that lubricate and nourish our eyes to evaporate faster.
- Incomplete Blinking: Many individuals tend to blink incompletely or not at all while concentrating on screens, which again leads to increased evaporation of tears.
- Increased Exposition to Blue Light: Screens emit high-energy visible light, also known as blue light. Prolonged exposure to blue light can disrupt the functioning of the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the lipid layer of tears that prevents evaporation.
- Reduced Contrast: Screens often lack the contrast and sharpness of printed materials, causing our eyes to strain and work harder, leading to dryness.
The Impact of Screen Time on Tear Production
Research has shown that excessive screen time can negatively impact tear production, further exacerbating dry eye symptoms:
- A study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found that individuals who spent more time using screens had significantly lower tear production compared to those who used screens less frequently.
- Another study conducted by the British Journal of Ophthalmology discovered a direct correlation between the duration of screen use and tear film stability.
Preventing and Managing Dry Eyes
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to prevent and manage dry eyes resulting from excessive screen time:
1. Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break, and look at something 20 feet away. This helps to relax your eye muscles and reduces the strain caused by continuous screen use.
2. Blink Regularly
Consciously make an effort to blink regularly while using screens, ensuring that your eyes stay adequately lubricated. This can be particularly helpful for individuals who tend to blink incompletely or irregularly while focused on their devices.
3. Adjust Screen Settings
Optimize your screen settings for your comfort. This includes adjusting brightness, contrast, font size, and background color to reduce eye strain.
4. Use Artificial Tears
Artificial tears, or lubricating eye drops, can provide temporary relief from dryness and irritation. They help replenish moisture and provide comfort to dry eyes. Consult your eye care professional to choose the most suitable eye drops for your condition.
5. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Factors like diet, hydration, and adequate sleep play a significant role in maintaining overall eye health. Ensure you consume a balanced diet rich in nutrients, stay hydrated, and get enough restful sleep to promote optimal eye function.
6. Consider Blue Light Filters
Investing in blue light filters for your screens can help reduce the exposure to harmful blue light, minimizing the risk of dry eyes and other potential effects associated with prolonged screen time. These filters are available in the form of screen protectors or software applications that can be installed on your devices.
7. Visit an Eye Care Professional
If you experience persistent or severe dry eye symptoms, it is crucial to seek professional help. An eye care specialist can assess your condition, provide tailored recommendations, and suggest specific treatments, such as prescription eye drops or therapies, to alleviate your symptoms.
Conclusion
While screens have become an integral part of our daily lives, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with excessive screen time, such as dry eyes. By following the preventive measures mentioned above and being mindful of our screen usage, we can minimize the impact on our eye health and ensure a more comfortable digital experience.
Thank you for reading our blog post. We hope you found it informative and useful!
GlaucomaGlaucoma is the leading cause of blindness for people who are above the age of 50.
It is a disease that affects the optic nerve( the nerve which is responsible for carrying all the visual information from the eyes to the brain.
When the pressure in your eyes increases it can damage your optic nerve, which sends images to your brain If the damage worsens, glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss or blindness.
Thus Glaucoma is treated to lower the pressure within the eye and it is accomplished by increasing the outflow of fluid from within the eye or slowing the production of fluid within the eye.Who is at risk of developing Glaucoma?Glaucoma is most commonly affected in adults who are over 50+ of age and the risk of developing glaucoma increases with ageA family history of glaucoma increases one’s risk of developing glaucomaIncreased blood flow to the optic nerve can lead to the risk of developing glaucomaPeople who are associated with high eye pressure are at an increased risk of glaucomaAre either near-sighted or farsightedLong term treatment in steroid medicationsInjuries to the eyes or eye can cause GlaucomaHaving corneas that are thinner than usualSymptoms of GlaucomaThere are two main categories of Glaucoma namely, Open-angle glaucoma and Angle-closure glaucoma.
People with open-angle glaucoma will not have any symptoms but the main sign is usually a loss of side, or peripheral, vision.
Whereas the symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma usually come on faster and are more obvious.
The effective ways have been listed below which highlight the significance of wearing the glasses while using digital media, these effective ways would render a better lifestyle curing headaches caused by blue light waves.Can you avoid digital media?
Do you wish to imagine writing on paper and not working on a word document on your laptop?
Would you like to go back to the era where there is no ‘1-sec’ email but ‘2-day speed mail’?
Well, life is impossible this way, you can never imagine it without quick use of technology where every file rests safely cryptic in the virtual folder than putting it all in huge stacks and locking the whole room for privacy.If we cannot do anything without the digital devices and every activity is screen dependent then it becomes our duty to look at our ophthalmic health too, thus should start by regularly wearing blue light filter glasses for computer.
These glasses by Oiamik are made of a wonderful resin material with a yellow-green lens capable of cutting the harmful blue light.Why do screen headaches occur?The screen headache is a condition that arises from our lifestyle flaws, where we do not take necessary precautionary steps for maintaining good eye health.
The biggest flaw- is not wearing suitable eyeglasses which will act as a shield between the computer screens and your naked eyes.The frequent and continuous exposure to the screens would mean constant disclosure to the strong blue light waves which are present in the digital source you are looking at.
Protect your child's eye health and encourage healthy mobile device use with plano app - every parent’s digital companion.About planoAppPlano is designed to reduce the risk factors associated with myopia (short-sightedness) and manage your child’s device use, all within 1 simple-to-use app.
Plano's features help parents to limit screen time for kids, manage and block apps, track what apps your kids are using and monitor their time spent on smartphones and tablets.
Plano has cross-device functionality so you just need one parent account to add as many children account as required.Plano a parental control app was incubated with support from the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) and Singapore National Eye Center (SNEC) and is in partnership with a global leader in eye care, Santen.Plano’s mission is to empower people to achieve their best vision and eye health through education and science-driven technological solutions.
Save Sight, Empower Lives!PLANO Parental Control Features:Device control & safety (Parental Control)• Device Schedule: Set times when your child cannot use their device.• Remote Locking: Remotely lock your child’s device from your phone.• Track Device Use: Keep track of the time your child spends on their device and their frequently used apps.• Parental app blocker: Keep your child safe from harmful internet content by blocking apps and online browsing.Science-based alerts• Eye-to-Screen Detection: Ensures your child has a healthy distance between screen and eyes.• Eye Break Prompts: Encourages and rewards your kids to manage their screen time• Posture Monitoring: Calibrates and ensures your child’s posture to encourage healthy smart device use.• Low Light Detection: Detects when your kids are using their device in bad lighting.• Blue Light Filter: Helps your kids to sleep better at night by activating the blue light filter.A fun and rewarding way to develop safe habits• Points-based reward system for kids to encourage positive reinforcement• Encourage your child to take charge of their eye habits & screen time while having fun!• Plano rewards are linked to actions of responsible device use and good eye habits.Real rewards for positive behavior• Unlock exclusive discounts on a variety of fun activities for both children and the whole family• Plano Shop activities are curated in themes for family fun away from the screen• Themes include Outdoor Adventures, Fun Activities, Sports & Games, and learn new skills under Enrichment & Education.Digital wellness and regular eye checkups• Eye Check Booking: Ensure your child gets the right service and comprehensive eye check ups through the Plano Eye check.• Detailed Progress Reports: View individualized reports on your child’s mobile device use & screen time• Eye Health Records: Keep track of your child’s eye test results.Download appPlano is FREE to download the parental control android app to use it.
The eye health features and a collection of the safety functions will always be FREE to use.
New users will also get a 30-day trial for the premium features.
