We spend an average of more than seven hours a day in front of screens, and on vacation\u2014between our cell phones, TV shows, and video games\u2014that number doesn\u2019t go down; it just shifts to different devices. Digital eye strain has become one of the most common reasons for visiting an ophthalmologist. The good news: it can be relieved with simple habits, not miracle products.<\/p>\n
What is digital eye strain?<\/strong><\/p>\n Also known as computer vision syndrome, it encompasses the symptoms that arise after prolonged screen use: dry, itchy eyes; intermittent blurred vision; difficulty focusing when changing viewing distances; headaches; and discomfort in the neck and shoulders. It\u2019s estimated that the vast majority of people who spend more than three hours a day in front of screens experience at least one of these symptoms.<\/p>\n The main cause is not the light emitted by the screen, but how we use it: when staring at a screen, we blink up to three times less frequently, tears evaporate, and the focusing muscle works nonstop at close range for hours.<\/p>\n Blue Light Filters: Under Scrutiny<\/strong><\/p>\n The most recent recommendations from leading ophthalmological societies are unanimous: there is no need to invest in blue light glasses or filters to combat eye strain, because scientific evidence has not shown that they reduce symptoms. The amount of blue light emitted by a screen is a tiny fraction of what we naturally receive from the sun.<\/p>\n Where screen light does have an impact is on sleep: using screens late at night can make it harder to fall asleep. The solution, once again, is to develop good habits (reducing screen time before bed or turning on night mode), not to buy special glasses.<\/p>\n What Actually Works<\/strong><\/p>\n When there\u2019s more to it<\/strong><\/p>\n If symptoms persist despite these habits, it\u2019s important to rule out other causes: dry eye, uncorrected refractive errors, or\u2014very common and often underdiagnosed\u2014a binocular vision problem, such as convergence insufficiency, in which the two eyes do not coordinate their focusing efforts well at close range. At INOF, we are a leading center for binocular vision and have a dedicated unit for its diagnosis and treatment in both children and adults.<\/p>\n Schedule your appointment at INOF<\/strong><\/p>\n If screen time is taking a toll on you, a comprehensive examination of your refraction, ocular surface, and binocular vision will identify the true cause of your eye strain.<\/p>\n www.inof.es \u00b7 933 933 156 \u00b7 Teknon Medical Center, Vilana 12 Clinics, Barcelona<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We spend an average of more than seven hours a day in front of screens, and on vacation\u2014between our cell phones, TV shows, and video games\u2014that number doesn\u2019t go down; it just shifts to different devices. Digital eye strain has become one of the most common reasons for visiting an ophthalmologist. The good news: it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":6042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[378],"tags":[],"post_series":[],"class_list":["post-6047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-visual-acuity","entry","has-media"],"yoast_head":"\n\n