“TECHNOLOGY” COULD BE BOTH CAUSE AND SOLUTION
by Alison Adams, ©2016
(Oct. 24, 2016) — The evolution of technology represents an incredible opportunity for the modern world. Over the years, new devices and solutions have emerged to serve our needs in everything from office work to home convenience. From smartphones that make it easier than ever to access the news from anywhere at any time, to smart security devices that communicate with each other around the home, the modern world relies heavily on technological marvels.
Unfortunately, as wonderful as technology can be, it also comes with its downsides. For instance, today, it is practically impossible to spend a full day without looking at some sort of screen, whether it’s an iPad, Kindle, phone, or just your work computer. According to studies, over a third of Americans spend at least half the day using some kind of technology. This constant exposure to screens and specific light can have a negative impact on our vision over time, causing what is known as “computer vision syndrome.”
Technology and your eyes
Spending your day staring at a screen affects your eyes in a very important way. The modern devices that can cause bad eyesight in today’s world include:
- Cellphones.
- Televisions.
- Computers.
- Tablets.
- iWatches.
- Fitbits.
- GPS devices.
Each device leads to an increased chance of computer vision syndrome, which can prompt headaches, eyestrain, difficulty concentrating, burning or itching eyes, double vision, sensitivity to light, and more. Why does this happen?
What happens to your eyes when you use technology?
Whenever you’re looking at a screen, you undergo several physical changes to the way that you would typically behave. These behaviors all have an impact on your eyesight and long-term wellbeing. For instance, when using a technological device, you:
- Blink less. Under normal conditions, the human eye blinks up to 15 times a minute, but when you’re focusing on a screen, that number reduces to eight blinks per minute. Lack of blinking means lack of lubrication, causing sore, tired eyes.
- Use unfavorable angles. Unlike with books and newspapers where you angle your head downwards to read, viewing a screen causes you to look up or straight ahead. When you’re looking down, your eyelid covers more of your eye, keeping it moist and protected. On the other hand, when you’re reading from a screen, your eyes dry out faster and can experience fatigue.
- Get too close. When reading from your smartphone, you might hold it too close to your face, leading to “near point stress” over time, which wears on the muscles in your eyes, causing them to work harder to focus. This ultimately exhausts your eyes.
Protecting your vision today
If you are suffering from eye problems, the answer could lie within technology itself. You might consider solutions from Lasik Minneapolis to lower strain, maximize your eye strength, or even correct problems such as cataracts.
While avoiding technology might be impossible in today’s modern world, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t many great ways to look after your vision. From adjusting the brightness of your screen to changing the angle at which you read from computers and smartphones, you can take various steps to reduce your chances of suffering from eyestrain.