Pittwater Life May 2019 Issue

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
How modern Digital Life
is causing eye strain woe
Australians are leading
world consumers of
tablets, smartphones and
computers, with 80% now
owning and using a smartphone.
Australians spend an
average of 10 hours a day on
internet-connected devices.
Collectively, we look at our
smartphones more than 440
million times a day and 75%
of us regularly engage in
multi-tasking across multiple
screens and devices. This
places a significant stress
and fatigue on our eyes and
posture – although many may
not even be aware of it.
‘Digital’ has become an
inseparable part of everything
we do. It has changed
the way we work, learn, shop,
socialise and relax; however,
our eyes are not accustomed
to the changes of the modern
life and it is causing a real
strain on many of us. The
proliferation of devices and
growing usage rates creates
the question: how will our
vision adapt?
In response, Beckenham
Optometrist is launching
a local campaign to create
awareness in the community
that Digital Eye Strain can be
at the root of strained eyes,
neck and shoulder pain as
well as headaches – and that
there are simple solutions to
ease the strain.
Digital Eye Strain is the
physical eye discomfort felt
by as many as 65% of individuals
after two or more
hours in front of a digital
screen. Those using two or
more devices simultaneously
are at higher risk. Symptoms
can include one or more of
the following and the statics
represent the frequency of
reported symptoms:
n 35% Neck, Shoulder and
Back Pain;
n 32% Eye Strain;
n 28% Blurred Vision;
n 27% Headache; and
n 27% Dry Eyes.
Why does it occur?
n Our eyes are focusing
more intensively, switching
frequently between devices
and adjusting to increasingly
smaller, pixelated characters
and bright, glowing screens.
n Digital devices are backlit
and emit blue-violet light that
can cause strain and discomfort
and is linked to disrupted
sleeping patterns.
n A new reading zone in ultra
near vision has evolved with
the smartphone, placing even
greater demands on our eyes.
n The normal blinking rate
is often reduced from 17 or
more blinks a minute to 8-10
blinks, reducing tear production,
making your eyes feel
dry and uncomfortable.
n Our posture has changed
as we lean toward our screens
and/or slouch in our chairs,
putting a strain on the neck
and back.
This growing epidemic is
affecting 2 in 3 people – and
we see this in our practice
every day. What people may
not realise is that they don’t
have to live with the strain –
we can prescribe the latest
lens technologies that help to
eliminate glare, filter out blue
light and prevent vision fatigue.
We look at your unique
digital environment, device
usage and the work you do to
prescribe a highly personalised
solution that will take the
pressure off your eyes.
with Rowena Beckenham
If you wear prescription
glasses currently, a dedicated
computer pair will combat
Digital Eye Strain and deliver
postural benefits as your
focus will be optimised for
closeup work and screen
viewing.
As part of its ‘Digital Eye
Strain’ campaign we are
urging people, regardless of
whether they currently wear
glasses, to take the time and
recognise whether they have
Digital Eye Strain symptoms.
Understanding the impact of
digital device usage on an
individual’s eyes is one aspect
that optometrists will discuss
with you as part of the practice’s
thorough 360° comprehensive
eye consultation.
Beckenham Optometrist
has been operating in Avalon
for 20 years; find us at 15 Old
Barrenjoey Rd Avalon.
* Sources: Ernst & Young
(2016) – Digital Australia;
Deloitte (2015) – Mobile Consumer
Survey; Nielsen (2015)
– Mobile Rating Report; Eyes
Overexposed: The Digital
Device Dilemma, 2016 Digital
Eye Strain Report (USA);
Computer Vision Syndrome
Affects Millions, J. Brody,
NY Times May 30, 2016; and
Eyes Overexposed: The Digital
Device Dilemma, 2016
Digital Eye Strain Report
(USA).
46 MAY 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991