Imagine your life without eyesight, can you? Your eyes are one of the most important parts of your body with which your life would come to a halt. But lesser do we know that we are deteriorating our eye health by being always active on one or the other kind of digital device. This practice affects our eyesight which may lead to vision impairment. All the eye-related problems that are caused by digital devices fall under the category of Computer Vision Syndrome. The cases are rapidly increasing as we have become addicted to using these devices throughout the day. With the advent of social media, the condition has worsened which is alarming.
Bank of America conducted a study that says that people start using their mobile devices as soon as they get up and continue to use until they doze off. This increased digital interaction has lead to Computer Vision Syndrome where people suffer from headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision, neck pain, etc. problems.
Dr. Sonia Bhalla, Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram says, “Technology is a boon for us but can become a bane for the eyes if we misuse and overuse them. The right way is to create a good balance. Taking good care of eyes is important for prolonging the life of our vision.”
Here are 7 tips to protect your eyes against computer vision syndrome.
1. Get an eye test done
First things first, getting regular eye checkup is a must. Especially when you are getting headaches, blurred vision, watery eyes like problems.
2. Reduce screen time
Screen time is the collective time that you spend on different digital mediums. To reduce strain, reducing screen time is very important. Don’t use your smart devices unless it is necessary. It is advised to keep your devices at the side at least an hour before going to bed.
3. Lighting plays an important role
To decrease visual strain, it is very important to have good lighting at the office and home. Try and avoid using external sources as much as possible. Also, don’t stay in bright lights for longer times.
4. The 20-20-20 rule
Your work may require you to spend a lot of time on computer devices. for such situations, you must follow the 20-20-20 rule. This means give a 20-seconds break to your eyes every 20 minutes and keep things 20 feet away. This would not only better your vision but also overall health.
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5. Walk and talk
Skip the typical board meetings and try this walk and talk meeting. This would keep all of you active and would reduce the usage of digital devices.
6. Adjust the settings of your computer
Screen settings impact your eye health. Adjust the brightness, contrast, resolution, font size, etc. what is easy on your eyes.
Also Read: Floaters and Flashes in the Eyes: Causes and Treatment
7. Do eye exercises
Just like other physical exercises, doing eye exercises is also helpful. Doing these daily would enhance your vision and keep eye problems at bay.
With inputs from Dr. Sonia Bhalla, Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.
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