Nowadays, we’re all spending a lot of time at home, looking at screens. This situation can affect our physical and mental well-being, as well as our eyes. The consequences of this can be felt by people of all ages, from young children who are spending more time in front of screens than ever, to adults who are working online or using their phones for long periods of time. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in nearsightedness, especially in children. Myopia can lead to challenges in school and social life, which can affect a child’s self-esteem. The main causes of myopia include genetics, spending a lot of time in small spaces, focusing on nearby objects for extended periods (such as screens), and not spending enough time in natural sunlight. All of these factors, which are prevalent in the current time, can worsen myopia.
It can be difficult to know if a child has vision problems, as they may not realize that they should be seeing better, or they may have developed coping mechanisms for their impaired vision. There are signs that may indicate visual impairment, such as rubbing their eyes frequently, red or watery eyes, misaligned eyes, difficulty seeing from a distance, holding devices close or far from their face, covering or shutting one eye, and sitting very close to screens. If you notice any of these signs in your child, it’s important to take them to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
There are a few strategies you can incorporate into your everyday routine to help maintain healthy vision. The 20-20-20 rule suggests that every 20 minutes, you should focus on something 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds. This can give your eyes a break from close-up work. It’s also recommended to work at least an arm’s length away from screens to reduce strain on the eyes. Spending at least two hours a day outdoors can also help prevent the progression of myopia. Another tip is to blink often to reduce eye dryness and discomfort. Additionally, there are now specialized eyeglass lenses available, such as Shamir Optimee™, which can slow down the progression of myopia.
Adults have also been experiencing vision challenges due to increased screen time. This can lead to difficulties with close vision, which may not have been an issue before. Solutions for this include reading glasses, multifocal lenses, and office lenses designed for computer work. There are also specialized lenses available, such as Shamir New Relax™, that can reduce eye fatigue and strain associated with close-up work.
If you or your child are experiencing vision challenges, it’s important to get an eye exam and find the right solution for your vision needs. This can significantly improve quality of life. It’s also important to choose lens materials and coatings that will support quality of vision, such as Shamir Blue Zero™, which filters harmful blue light emitted from screens, or Shamir Glacier Expression™, which reduces reflections and improves contrast sensitivity.
