Do Screens Damage My Eyes?

This is a complicated question – do screens damage your eye health in the form of blinding eye disease? Not quite. Does prolonged screen use create issues with visual comfort, blurred vision, and dry eyes? Absolutely. While you don’t need to worry too much about your eyes being damaged by the blue rays from your device, prolonged focusing on any device can cause irreversible damage to your tear glands (meibomian glands) which ultimately leads to dry eye disease that just worsens with age. This can lead to fluctuating vision, irritation, redness, watering, and light sensitivity. It can also create symptoms of eyestrain and headaches. For kids, it can lead to higher levels of nearsightedness that can in fact increase the risk to their eye health in adulthood. We always recommend taking breaks from prolonged work on screens, blinking mindfully, and treating your dry eye symptoms early. For children, screen time should be limited to less than one hour a day, and balanced out with plenty of time outdoors. Talk to your optometrist at your next exam to make sure you’re doing everything you can to take care of your eyes.