Digital eye strain: A growing problem

In the modern world, people spend most of their waking hours using electronic appliances. The pandemic has amplified this phenomenon. Digital screens have become an integral part of people’s day to day activities. As a consequence, a new ailment is reaching the masses: digital eye strain.

Smartphones, laptops, tablets, televisions emit blue light, which can cause digital eye strain. That comprises itchy, teary eyes accompanied by dryness and redness. It disturbs sleep cycles, making people feel like they have not had enough rest even after sleeping for a healthy amount of time.

People experiencing digital eye strain often feel tired and uneasy to function normally, which is primarily caused by gazing at the digital screens for a long amount of time.

While completely eliminating screen time is not a practical solution to this problem, there are still ways to relieve the eyes. Cutting out time spent on watching television and fiddling on smartphones and tablets outside of work and study purposes can be helpful. Besides, the use of glasses designed to prevent digital eye strain is beneficial, and quite popular these days, too.

“The demand for Anti-Reflective Coating (ARC) lenses has exponentially increased since the COVID–19 pandemic. Due to online classes, a lot of school-going children use the ARC lenses these days,” says Krishna Timalsina, the owner of Alka Optics, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur.

“Many people who do not wear prescription glasses also come to buy ARC lenses. We make ARC lenses for everyone, from young children to people in their fifties,” adds Timalsina.

Blue light is actually everywhere. Its sources come in a wide variety, from sunlight to LED lighting to digital screens. This means exposure to blue light is not new, as people for centuries have been exposed to sunlight. The actual concern is the amount of time people are staring at the digital screens and the proximity at which people keep their digital devices.

“I think many people are aware about digital eye strain in recent days, as many people complain about having dry eye problems after using digital gadgets for an extended amount of time. About 50 percent of my customers opt for ARC lenses,” says Timalsina.

When asked if he personally uses ARC lenses, Timalsina replies, “I always use them when I am on computers or laptops, and I would recommend every age group of people who have to use digital technologies due to study or work purposes for a long time to wear blue ray protective lenses.”