DIGITAL
EYE STRAIN
By Denis Langlois
Headaches, blurred vision and dry, irritated, tired eyes.
Each are symptoms of digital eye strain; the result of
spending too much time in front of smart phone, tablet,
computer or television screens.
“Patients who suffer from the irritating and painful symptoms of digital eye strain should talk to their eye-care provider
about their digital device habits to determine how best to
protect their eyes.”
While the effects are generally temporary, preliminary
research now suggests that too much screen time can lead
to serious vision problems later in life.
The Vision Council report, entitled Eyes Overexposed:
The Digital Device Dilemma, includes data that confirms
what most Canadians have believed to be true – our population is constantly connected and relies heavily on digital
devices for day-to-day tasks.
Consistent exposure to the high-energy visible or blue
light emitted from digital screens may be linked to longterm issues such as age-related macular degeneration –
which the Canadian National Institute for the Blind says
is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Canada
– as well as cataracts, which effects about 2.5 million
Canadians, according to a 2016 Digital Eye Strain Report
by The Vision Council.
“Research is still emerging on the long-term effects of
digital eye strain and how our vision will adapt to our newfound habits,” says Mike Daley, chief executive officer of
The Vision Council.
8 EYE FOCUS | June Digital 2016
In fact, a VisionWatch survey of 10,000 adults, found that
about 90 per cent of people use digital devices for two or more
hours each day, while 60 per cent are looking at a screen
for at least five hours a day and one in 10 people spend at
least three-fourths of their waking hours on a digital device.
Meanwhile, about 65 per cent of people experience eye
strain and discomfort after prolonged use of digital devices,
the report says.
“We're seeing that younger generations, those that have
had their lives shaped by technology from a young age, are