Too much device screen time bad for eyes

San Diego-Associated vision-related disorders, such as computer vision syndrome-which affects about 90% of people who spend 3 or more hours per day looking at a computer screen-are growing due to a rising compulsion for technological devices, according to Sandy T. Feldman, MD.

These problems, said Dr. Feldman, of Clearview Eye & Laser Center of San Diego, can turn into more serious vision issues if left untreated or unaddressed.

“If we as a society are going to continue to rely on technology and technological devices in both our personal and professional lives, we must also take precautions to help prevent or reduce the strain that technology is having on our eyes,” she said. “Studies show that between 50% to 90% of people who work on a computer have experienced some sort of issue with their vision. These numbers will only continue to grow-especially during the holidays when people have more free time-if we don’t take the necessary steps to protect our eyes from all the overstimulation.”

To rule out potential vision issues, Dr. Feldman offered the following tips to help reduce the risk of overstimulation of the eyes and prevent other major vision problems form developing:

·      Reduce the glare of the device.

·      Rest your eyes every 20 minutes or at least 20 seconds.

·      Make adjustments at your desk, such as repositioning the computer monitor slightly below eye level, with about 20 to 28 inches between the monitor and your face.

·      Adjust the computer settings, such as font size, contrast, and brightness.

·      Make the computer background light to almost natural light.

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