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Is The Light From Your Computer & Phone Screen Unsafe For Eyes?
The easy answer is yes. With an increased demand of technology in our lives, our eyes have suffered. Although technology can be quite beneficial, it has also brought on negative side effects, especially for our eye health. Today, most people stare at screens all day long, whether it is their cell phone, tablet, computer, or television, they all have a screen. At Dr. Schottenstein’s in Manhattan, NYC, we want to limit your use of screen time or at least lessen the damage that it may cause. We want to educate all of our patients on the dangers of too much screen time, the effects it can have on our eye health, and how to protect our eyes from further damage.
Retinal Damage
For most people, it is common to use their phone for almost everything, including as an alarm clock. Unfortunately, this means that their phone is next to their bed, easily used before they go to bed and when they wake up. Constantly staring at the screen of your phone is quite dangerous for your eye health as it can result in retinal damage. Exposure to too much blue light that is transmitted by an LED device will damage your eye. This becomes even more dangerous at night when your eyes are more focused on the blue light. Retinal damage may result in macular degeneration and damaged central vision.
Computer Vision Syndrome
Unfortunately, this is exactly what it sounds like. It occurs when our eyes stare at a computer screen for extended periods of time. The most common symptoms of computer vision syndrome include the following:
- Dry eyes
- Headaches
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Eyestrain
Depending on the patient, these symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe eye health problems. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and constantly use electronic devices like a computer screen, you may be suffering from computer vision syndrome. Please call Dr. Schottenstein, your local NYC ophthalmologist, to schedule an appointment. We will examine your eye health to determine if there is eye damage and which course of action should be taken.
Headaches & Migraines
The most common negative effect of screens on the eyes is experiencing a headache or even a migraine. When you stare at a screen for an extended period of time, eyestrain will most likely occur and can cause tension headaches. Typically, the contrast between the brightness of the screen and the darker text makes our eyes work harder than they need to, ultimately triggering eye strain and headaches. For some patients, this pain may be more severe and cause a migraine. Unfortunately, migraines can quickly cause other symptoms like nausea, light sensitivity, and temporary blindness.
How To Protect Your Eyes From Screen Damage
Dr. Schottenstein and his Manhattan ophthalmology team want to equip you with tips to protect your eyes, even when using a cellphone or computer.
- Have routine comprehensive eye exams to ensure your eyes are healthy and your glasses or contacts prescriptions are up-to-date. If the damage is present, it can be treated earlier rather than later.
- Upgrade your devices with a flat-panel LED screen with an anti-reflective surface to decrease eye strain and ultimately decrease eye damage.
- Adjust the settings on your computer screen. To decrease eye strain, you can change the brightness, the text size and contrast, and the color temperature.
- Blink often when looking at any screen to ensure your eyes are moist. By doing so you will decrease potential eye dryness and irritation. Most people naturally blink less when staring at a screen. To counter this, we recommend blinking ten times every twenty minutes while working on the computer or phone.
- Take breaks from the computer or cellphone screen. Please make sure you look away from the screen from time to time or leave the screen for a walk. This will help decrease any eye strain you may have been experiencing.
Call Your Local Ophthalmologist In NYC Today!
If you are concerned about your eye health and the light from your computer, cellphone, or tablet, talk to Dr. Schottenstein in Manhattan today. He is an expert ophthalmologist with the experience to prevent and treat eye strain or retinal damage. To schedule an appointment, call our NYC office at 212-874-2300 or fill out our easy online form. We look forward to seeing you and ensuring you can see clearly!