There is no denying that digital technology is a part of our everyday life. If we are not working on a computer, chances are we are keeping tabs on social media, email, and calendars on a smartphone. For many of us, this is how we work, get the news, organize our lives, and connect with the world.
Have you ever wondered if/how all that screen time affects us? Over the years there have been many people who have expressed concerns about how the technology we use every day impacts not only our eye health, but our overall health.
Digital Eye Strain
All our digital devices emit blue-violet light, which is known to have negative effects on our eyes. Additionally, it can take as little as 2 hours in front of a screen to cause a condition called Digital Eye Strain. The more time we spend looking at our devices, the more likely we are to suffer from the effects.
A whopping 65 percent of Americans report symptoms of digital eye strain. Those symptoms include:
- Dry, irritated eyes
- Blurred vision
- Eye fatigue
- Neck and back pain
- Headaches
Digital devices can also have an effect that goes beyond eye strain. It can impact your overall health and wellbeing. Other ways that digital devices have a negative effect on our daily lives include:
- Productivity – 77 percent of individuals who suffer from digital eye strain admit to using two or more devices simultaneously. This can cause difficulty focusing from one task to another.
- Sleep Habits – Exposure to blue light before bed can make falling asleep difficult, as it promotes brain activity. According to The Vision Council, 76 percent of Americans looks at their devices the hour before going to sleep. This not only keeps our minds awake, but almost doubles our exposure to blue-light and digital eye strain.
- Posture – The way we position ourselves to look at our devices can place unnecessary strain on our back and neck muscles, thus negatively affecting our overall posture.
How do we Protect our Eyes?
So, since we cannot possibly put all our devices away, how do we protect our eyes? The experts at Essilor have created a lens option, Eyezen+ lenses, for those suffering from digital eye strain.
Eyezen+
Eyezen+ lenses are single vision lenses that are enhanced for those suffering from digital eye strain. They are designed to help your eyes relax when looking at your up-close digital devices and protect your eyes from at least 20 percent of the harmful blue-light that is emitted from those devices. The family of Eyezen products are designed to relieve the eye strain and fatigue that comes with our digital world.
We encourage VBA Members to contact their network provider to learn more about Eyezen+ options available.