Vision Awareness Month

March is National Save Your Vision Month, a time to raise awareness about eye health and promote healthy vision practices. With the increase in digital device usage and screen time, it is more important than ever to take care of our eyes and reduce the risk of eye strain, eye fatigue, and other vision-related issues. In this blog, we will discuss the impact of digital devices and screen time on our eyes and provide tips for maintaining healthy vision.

Digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and computer monitors emit blue light, a high-energy visible (HEV) light that can penetrate deep into our eyes and cause damage to the retina over time. Prolonged exposure to blue light can cause eye strain, eye fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and sleep disturbances. The American Optometric Association has coined the term "Computer Vision Syndrome" (CVS) to describe the vision-related problems that can occur from prolonged use of digital devices.

A recent survey found that the average person spends at least seven hours a day using electronic devices, and prolonged use over a period can damage our vision, disturb our sleep and affect our overall health. Having our eyes glued to our screens has become second nature for most of us and we take our sight for granted. Screen time has steadily increased over the last decade yet we have failed to cultivate good eye-care practices to limit the adverse effects.

Tips for Maintaining Healthy Vision

Take Frequent Breaks: It is essential to take regular breaks from digital devices to rest your eyes. The American Optometric Association recommends the 20-20-20 rule, where you take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away.

Reduce Screen Glare: Adjust the brightness and contrast on your device's screen to reduce glare and make it easier on your eyes. Wearing blue light blocking glasses offers a solution for screen glare especially in the evening. Such glasses can also help reduce eye strain, blurry vision and headaches that come from staring at screens while working.

Use Proper Lighting: Use proper lighting in your workspace to reduce eye strain. Avoid working in low light or bright light, which can cause eye fatigue.

Blink More Often: Blinking helps to lubricate your eyes, which can reduce dryness and irritation. Remember to blink more often when using digital devices.

Use Eye Drops: If you suffer from dry eyes, use artificial tears or eye drops to lubricate your eyes and reduce discomfort.

Get Regular Eye Exams: Regular eye exams can help detect vision problems early on and prevent them from getting worse. Make sure to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at least once a year.

Limit Screen Time: Try to limit your screen time and take frequent breaks to rest your eyes. If you work in front of a computer all day, try to take regular breaks and move around to reduce eye strain.

In conclusion, digital devices and screen time have become an integral part of our daily lives, and it is essential to take care of our eyes to maintain healthy vision. By following the tips outlined above, you can reduce the risk of eye strain, eye fatigue, and other vision-related issues associated with digital devices and screen time. Remember to take breaks, use proper lighting, and get regular eye exams to protect your eyes and maintain healthy vision.

At Green Scrubs, we believe looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. Providing awesome surgical hats may be our passion but keeping this community of health care heroes safe is our inspiration. We will continue to offer news and tips in the hope that they give some clarity and guidance.