ECPS URGED TO DISCUSS DIGITAL EYE STRAIN WITH PATIENTS
The Vision Council is encouraging eyecare professionals to discuss with their patients the impacts of electronic device usage on the eyes as well as options to protect against potentially harmful blue light .
The organization recently released the results of a new Digital Eye Strain , Blue Light survey , in which 68.5 per cent of the nearly 10,000 respondents reported that they have not discussed their digital device usage with their eyecare provider and 73.5 per cent of respondents reported that they did not know eyewear can be used to protect the eyes from the short- and long-term effects of blue light exposure and digital eye strain .
“ The optical industry has recognized and responded to the increase in digital habits and has developed lens and coating technology to protect the eyes from blue light , glare and other environmental stressors , ultimately to improve the
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way people see ,” says Ashley Mills , CEO of The Vision Council . “ Consistent with its mission , The Vision Council is committed to educating the public that suffering from the effects of blue light exposure and digital eye strain does not have to be – and should not be – the norm .”
Based on the survey ’ s results , The Vision Council has launched a consumer outreach initiative which details the benefits of computer glasses and coatings , demonstrates the latest in eyewear technology and offers additional solutions for individuals to minimize digital eye strain .
Blue light , also known as high energy visible ( HEV ) light , is a type of light with short wavelengths emitting a higher energy . Blue light , according to The Vision Council , penetrates deep into the eye , so exposure may result in : damage to the retina ; longterm vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts ; and sleep disruption due to the suppression of the natural release of melatonin . Aside from sunlight , digital screens – like those of TVs , computer / laptops , smart phones and tablets – are the most common source of individuals ' blue light exposure .
The Vision Council ’ s survey also found that : 87 per cent of respondents use digital devices more than two hours per day and over 52 per cent regularly use two digital devices simultaneously ; 76.5 per cent of parents indicate that their children receive more than two hours of screen time per day and 55.6 per cent say their children experience symptoms of digital eye strain after two hours of screen time ; and while 78.3 per cent of parents are concerned about the impact of digital devices on their kids , only 29.1 per cent take their child for an annual eye exam as part of back-to-school preparation .