How Electronics are Negatively Affecting Your Eyes and What to do about it

Technology has become an essential part of our lives in today's digital age. We use electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers for work, entertainment, and communication. Unfortunately, while these devices have made our lives easier and more convenient, they also have a downside, they can negatively affect our eyes.

Electronic devices emit blue light, which can cause eye strain, dry eyes, and other vision problems. In this article, we will discuss how electronics negatively affect your eyes and what you can do to protect your eyes.

What is Blue Light?

Blue light is a high-energy visible (HEV) light emitted by electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. Blue light has a short wavelength, which means it produces a higher amount of energy. Unfortunately, the human eye is not very good at blocking blue light, which means it can penetrate deeper into the eye, potentially causing damage to the retina.

How Electronics are Negatively Affecting Your Eyes

Eye Strain

One of the most common ways electronics affect our eyes is through eye strain. Eye strain is a condition that occurs when your eyes become tired and overworked from looking at electronic devices for long periods. Symptoms of eye strain include:

Headaches

Blurred vision

Dry eyes

Neck and shoulder pain

Eye fatigue

Dry Eyes

Another way that electronics affect our eyes is by causing dry eyes. Dry eyes occur when there is a lack of moisture in the eyes. This can be caused by various factors, including staring at electronic screens for extended periods. When we look at screens, we tend to blink less frequently, which can cause the eyes to become dry and irritated.

Sleep Disruption

The blue light emitted by electronic devices can disrupt our sleep patterns. Exposure to blue light before bedtime can suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. This can make it harder to fall asleep and can lead to insomnia.

Myopia

There is evidence to suggest that the increased use of electronic devices may contribute to the rise in myopia, or nearsightedness, in children. Myopia occurs if the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved. Some studies suggest that spending more time indoors and looking at screens may contribute to myopia development.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Eyes

Take Breaks

One of the easiest ways to reduce the negative effects of electronics on your eyes is to take breaks. The American Optometric Association recommends the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. This can help reduce eye strain and fatigue.

Adjust Your Screen

Adjusting the brightness and contrast of your screen can help reduce eye strain. You should also position your screen at the correct distance and angle to reduce eye strain. The top of your screen should be at or slightly below eye level, and the screen should be about an arm's length away from your face.

Use a Travel Contact Lens Case

Many people find that using eyeglasses for computer work helps reduce eye strain, as wearing contact lenses can exacerbate dry eye and other computer vision syndrome symptoms.

A travel contact lens case is a convenient way to give yourself the option of wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. A travel contact lens case is designed to hold your contact lenses and a travel-sized contact solution bottle. Some travel contact lens cases, such as Oplee™ Travel Contact Lens Case, even include a built-in mirror and storage for your eyeglass case. 

It's important to note that you should never transfer contact solution from a large bottle to a smaller one. Doing so is not safe and could lead to an eye infection. So use a travel contact lens case that works with standard travel-sized (2 fl oz) contact solution bottles produced by most contact solution manufacturers. 

Use Blue Light Filters

Many electronic devices have built-in blue light filters that can help reduce the amount of blue light emitted by the screen. You can also install blue light filter apps on your devices or purchase blue light filter glasses to reduce exposure to blue light.

In conclusion, while technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, it's essential to be aware of its potential impact on our eyes. Blue light emitted from electronic devices can cause eye strain, dry eyes, sleep disruption, and even myopia. However, there are several ways to protect your eyes, such as taking breaks, adjusting your screen, using a travel contact lens case, and using blue light filters. By taking these simple steps, you can reduce the negative effects of electronics on your eyes and maintain good eye health in today's digital age.