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Posted by: Mitchell Refractive Surgery & Eye Center

What are the Negative Effects of Screens on the Eyes?

With the increasing use of technology in our lives, our eyes have suffered. Although technology can do amazing things to change our lives for the better, it has also brought on negative effects, especially for our eyes. Today, we stare at screens all day long; whether it is a cellphone, tablet, computer, or television—they all have a screen. At Mitchell Eye Center in Boca Raton, FL, our experienced eye doctor wants to responsibly limit your use of screen time or at least lessen the damage that it may cause. We want to educate all our patients on the dangers of too much screen time and the negative effects it can have on our eye health.

Retinal Damage

For most people, it is common to use a phone for almost everything, including an alarm clock. Unfortunately, this means the phone is next to your bed, easily used before going to sleep and right when you wake up. Constantly staring at the screen of your cellphone is quite dangerous for your eye health as it can result in retinal damage. Exposure to too much blue light that is transmitted by any LED device will damage your eyes. 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:

• Dry eyes
• Headaches
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Eye strain

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 contact the Mitchell Eye Center to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor and 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 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.

Schedule Your Next Eye Appointment at the Mitchell Eye Center!

For questions or inquiries about eye health, eye damage, or eyeglasses, please contact the Mitchell Eye Center in Boca Raton, Florida. Our eye doctor and staff will be more than happy to assist you with an eye exam, eye treatments for specific conditions, or fit you for eyeglass in our optical shop, The Optique. To schedule an appointment at our Boca Raton, FL office, please fill out our online form! We look forward to helping you with all your eye care needs!