Itchy eyes make it inevitable to scratch them at the end of the day. Sometimes the feeling turns into a burning sensation that causes her to cry. Red, tired eyes feel dry. Most people today maintain a routine of constant, digitally dependent activity, as work and leisure time are largely spent in front of a screen.
After a long day of work at the computer, we relax by scrolling for a while on social networks, watching a movie or reading the news to find out what happened that day.
According to a Comparitech study, people worldwide spend almost seven hours a day in front of a screen, which is around 30 percent of the day.
For this reason, it is no coincidence that, as Dr. Marcela Huertas, President of the Colombian Association of Optometrists (Fedopto), explained, Excessive use of screens has created a public health problem Because “the majority of people who come in today have problems with blurred vision, eye fatigue and dry eye; and these three symptoms are related to the improper use of screens.”
Yes OK Screens alone have not been proven to harm eye health. It is known that their improper use can cause symptoms that, if not corrected or treated properly, can lead to discomfort and even pathology.
Although cell phones, computers and televisions are now sold with filters that protect eyesight, there is still a lack of education about the risks associated with misusing the devices.
One of the main symptoms caused by excessive screen use is dry eyes. César Carriazo, president of the Colombian Society of Ophthalmology (Socoftal), explains that people’s concentration on screens causes the frequency of blinking to decrease.
When this happens, a dryness problem occurs “because the resulting tear film is not sufficiently distributed over the surface. This causes the epithelium – the outer and protective layer of the cornea – to become inflamed This manifests itself in, among other things, burning, dryness, the feeling of having a foreign body in the eye, tiredness and eye strain. That is why it is necessary to stop and blink when working on the computer,” Carriazo tells EL TIEMPO.
This can be harmless if you blink consciously and keep your eyes moisturized. However, Symptoms that cause discomfort can trigger behaviors that may pose a risk.
For example, if the itching is caused by excessive rubbing, a corneal condition called keratoconus may develop. This is a progressive eye disease in which the cornea – the clear front part of the eye – thins and becomes deformed. This leads to blurry, distorted and light-sensitive vision.
“Keratoconus causes a loss of quality of vision. Therefore, in order to see well, one must wear special contact lenses or undergo surgery. Some patients may even lose their vision if the keratoconus is very advanced,” says Carriazo.
Therefore, it is important to squint when looking at screens, keep your eyes moisturized, and avoid rubbing them excessively due to eye discomfort. In these cases, lubricant drops can be used provided they are recommended by a doctor.
Misuse of screens can also have consequences for the eye muscles. The eye has a mechanism called accommodation that allows it to adapt to different distances. When looking from a distance, the inner eye muscles, the ciliaries, are relaxed; But when an object is brought closer into view, these muscles contract.
“Inside the eye there is a lens, the crystalline lens, which is supported by the muscles responsible for focusing, allowing us to see clearly both near and far. With excessive use of screens, especially without breaks, this internal muscle tends to remain tense in order to see up close and focus. It is as if it has had a small cramp,” says Huertas, President of Fedopto.
This is where the problem becomes apparent: When you look from a distance, the view becomes blurry because Due to the constant strain of close vision, the muscle loses flexibility. This symptom is not permanent, it can be treated, but, as Huertas explains, it causes discomfort and fatigue and is best avoided by good behavior in front of the screen.
One of these good habits is the well-known one “20-20-20” rule. Every 20 minutes of continuous screen use, you take a 20-second break to look at an object about six meters (20 feet) away.
This exercise helps reduce digital eye strain, relaxes muscles tense when focusing, and encourages blinking, which improves eye lubrication and reduces the feeling of fatigue in the eyes.
The distance at which the screens are located is also crucial. “When using mobile devices, a minimum distance of 40 centimeters is recommended and when using computer screens, a distance of 50 or 60 centimeters is recommended,” clarifies Huertas.
In addition, the optician emphasizes how important sufficient lighting is when viewing screens. Be sure to avoid direct light on them; The light must come from behind or above and must not create reflections on the computer.
It is also not advisable to stay in the dark as this increases eye fatigue. That is, there must be a balance between the lighting of the screen and the surroundings; it should neither be too dark nor too light.
When you are in a very dark environment, your pupil dilates to compensate for the lack of light, allowing much more light to come in directly from the screen.
“This is disruptive to the retina and causes visual problems, especially when the light from the device is intense. On the other hand, when the environment is well lit, the pupil remains medium in size and does not let in as much intense light,” explains Carriazo.
Regarding the alleged danger of blue light, which raised concerns about eye health some time ago, the Experts point out that there are no studies that prove any actual danger or benefit of glasses with blue filters. They emphasize that care should focus on usage habits.
Finally, experts also recommend not removing lice with your nails. Your hands can contain bacteria that infect your eyes. Therefore, it is best to wash your face and dry it with a clean towel.
When it comes to children’s eye health, the connection between very short distance screen use and increased eye development is increasingly being studied. myopia.
Constant exposure to devices that are just a few centimeters from the face can cause the eyes to develop this refractive error, especially because the child’s visual system is still in the process of growing and adapting.. “This phenomenon, which used to be less common, is now more common,” explains Huertas.
The trend is increasing as devices become entertainment tools to keep children occupied from a young age. This reinforces the recommendation to promote healthier viewing habits in childhood.
Even though screen exposure itself has not been proven to be harmful, Experts point out that it is still too early to assess the long-term effects: digitalization has accelerated since the pandemic and it takes time – at least 40 years, according to experts – to assess its actual consequences.
Meanwhile, they insist that it is in our hands to adopt healthy screen-use habits that will prevent discomfort and reduce the risk of more serious problems developing over time.
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