Smarter the Strain – How Mobile Phones are Effecting Your Eye Health and Vision

Back in the 90s, one of the major culprits behind degrading eye health and vision was television. The rays coming off those huge CRTs were so harmful that they could actually penetrate a wall. So, they caused damage to the eye even if you sit at a safe distance from the screen. A historic study suggests that the number of people buying prescription glasses increased as television became a common household appliance.

 And then the science waved its magic wand again, and the ugly cathode rays turned into LCDs and LEDs. These alternatives were considered safer for the eyes. Everyone got so overwhelmed that we all forgot how safer doesn’t mean harmless. Today, research has proven that these so-called “safer” screens pose more threat to our eyes than the old  TVs. The major reason is no longer the television, but the  more common handheld devices such as smartphones.

As smartphones have become common, the amount of time an average person spends in front of the screen has risen drastically. At the same time, the distance between the eyes and the screen has also shrunken to a dangerous level. And the dangers range from weakening vision to constant irritation and dry headaches.

What Problems Can it Cause?

As we said, eye problems related to screen time are not a new discovery. It was studied back in the time of cathode ray TVs, got worse with computers, and now getting much worse with smartphones. According to a survey, short-sightedness has increased 35% since smartphones were introduced. Even according to the EyeglassesPro, most of the people who buy discount glasses online are suffering from vision problems due to their computer-related work.

 The problems caused by staring at the screen are often called computer vision problems. The symptoms include stress, dry eyes, blurry vision,  and focus problems. Today, an average person spends 5 to 8 hours staring at their smartphone screen. These devices are used for a multitude of activities ranging from shopping to social media. Most of these activities involve heavy reading as well. Besides, many people use their smartphones to  watch movies and read books.

The root is, however, not just the duration but also the distance. Your smartphone screen is usually only 8 inches or less close to your eyes. The font is smaller and screen brightness is higher than that of any other device or appliance with a screen.

The Solution

One of the best ways to keep smartphones from hurting your eyes is to limit the amount of time you spend staring at the screen. You don’t have to check your social media newsfeed every few seconds later. Make it a point to use smartphones only when too necessary or in case you are too bored and you don’t have anything constructive to do. If that is not possible, try using small yet frequent breaks between the usages. However, that doesn’t mean you should stop staring at one screen just to stare at another. Give your eyes a break from all kinds of screen stress, instead, try a relaxing therapy or an activity that doesn’t put much stress on the eyes, preferably, take a nap or take a stroll in the park for a while.

Yet, if you are someone who can’t get enough breaks from the screen, there are two things you can do. First of all, you need to purchase a screen filter, and then you need discount prescription glasses with high-quality anti-reflective lenses.

At EyeglassesPro, we offer a fine range of cheap eyeglasses along with a variety of high-quality lenses options specifically designed to minimize stress. So, if you have decided to buy eyeglasses online, don’t forget to read about all of our lenses before placing the order.