Eye strain more common with increase in screen time

Optometrist Ian Russell warns of increased eye strain due to digital lifestyle. Photo / Paul Brooks

With many Kiwis glued to screens more than usual, Whanganui optometrist Ian Russell warns that spending more time staring at screens is causing a surge in digital eye strain.

Research from Specsavers conducted pre-lockdown shows that Kiwi workers were already experiencing symptoms in relation to digital eye strain due to screen-based lifestyles.

With most spending increased time indoors, working, studying and socialising on screens recently, people can expect to experience even more symptoms.

"We're getting a lot more people coming in saying they've got eye fatigue from looking at screens for a long time," says Ian.

"It's not natural to look at one spot for a number of hours at a time: it's more natural to look at different things."

He says in a classroom environment, while students may look at a screen for some of the time, they are generally looking up and around at things at different distances.

"If people had a prescription, a minor one that wasn't affecting them much day to day, suddenly chuck yourself on to a screen for a number of hours and that becomes more pronounced.

"Computers aren't responsible for creating a need for glasses ... but if you have a prescription it's going to become more noticeable."

Screen time is not damaging but it can exacerbate an existing condition. With people working from home and more online work for students, Ian says it's important that people are comfortable doing it.

"We're seeing reduced comfort from spending hours looking at a computer screen.

"There's the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, give your eyes a 20 second break looking at something 20 metres away. For young people it's important to get out to natural daylight. Spending all day inside looking at a device has strong implications for developing problems.

Eye strain can cause headaches, squinting, tiredness and eye dryness.

"People tend to blink less when they're staring at a screen."