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.