What is Digital Eye Strain?

While new tablets, smartphones, computers, and TVs can provide hours of entertainment and discovery, they can also have an adverse effect on our vision. Staring at digital screens can cause hazy, blurred vision and can make eyes burn and feel DRY, itchy, and irritated. This condition is known as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome. Other symptoms of digital eye strain can include:

Problems focusing
Neck and shoulder pain
Headache
Fatigue

Want To Avoid Eye Strain?

Whenever you sit down to look at a screen, remember to follow these eye tips.

- Sit farther away from your computer screen. A good rule is to be at least 25 inches, or roughly an arm’s length, away. While you’re at it, move the screen so you have to look slightly downward at the screen.
- Consider using a matte screen filter to reduce your screen’s glare.
- Try your best to remember to follow the 20-20-20 rule. Set a timer to remind you to look away every 20 minutes at an object that is about 20 feet away for a full 20 seconds.
- Buy some artificial tears at your local drugstore to use when your eyes feel dry. A humidifier can also help.
- Blink often to help replenish your eye’s own tears.
- Dim your screen if it’s much brighter than the rest of the light in the area. You could also adjust the room lighting so the contrast is lessened.
- DIGITAL WORLD: Nowadays we are living in a Digital World. Especially The COVID-19 pandemic criteria, which led to the shutdown of schools and colleges. So all beings forced children to spend more time on computers, laptops, and mobiles — all started to study from home and online classes instead of schools or colleges. Kids are getting a lot of screen time right now. Due to the significant spike in screen time, parents are now worried about their children’s eye health.
- Spending too much time in front of screens can trigger various eyes problems. Thus, every parent needs to know how they can manage kids’ screen time and keep their little ones and teens safe while they are studying from home. Electronics are great tools for education and leisure. Children do not naturally set boundaries for themselves, so adults can help by teaching moderation. It begins with having conversations with kids about digital eye strain and how electronic devices affect eye health.

How can I protect my kids eyes from screen light?

Try To Do these :-

Remind them to take breaks.

The American Optometric Association recommends the 20/20/20 rule: look away from the screen every 20 minutes, focus on an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds.

In addition, children should walk away from the screen for at least 10 minutes every hour.

HOW CAN KEEP HEALTHY EYES?

Good vision helps you perform well-at home, at work, or anywhere. That’s why it’s important to take a few simple steps to make sure you help keep your eyesight at its best. A regular eye check-up is the best way to protect your eyesight, and an easy precaution to take. Here are some tips to help maintain eye health.

Eat a Balanced Diet: As part of your healthy diet, choose foods rich in antioxidants, like Vitamins A and C; foods like leafy, green vegetables, and fish. Many foods – especially fatty fish, such as salmon – contain essential omega-3 fatty acids that are important to the health of the macula, the part of the eye responsible for central vision.

Get a Good Sleep: You’ll feel the difference when you get the sleep you need. You’ll look great, you’ll perform at home or work—and good rest will support the health of your eyes.

Exercise: Exercise improves blood circulation, which improves oxygen levels to the eyes and the removal of toxins.

Now Lets Check Some Food Items:- TOP FOOD FOR HEALTHY EYES

Fish:

Many fish are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Some studies have found that fish oil can reverse dry eye, including dry eye caused by spending too much time on mobile or computer. Fish such as Salmon, sardines, tuna.

. Nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts also contain high level of vitamin E, which can protect the eye from age-related damage. Nuts and legumes that are good for eye health such as peanuts, lentils, walnuts Brazil nuts.

Leafy green vegetables:

Leafy green vegetables are rich in both lutein and zeaxanthin and are also a good source of eye-friendly vitamin C. Such as spinach, drumstick leaves, kale, collards etc.

The following foods are rich in beta carotene:

Sweet Potatoes: Like carrots, sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene. They are also a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E.

Other food items such as apricots, brocoli, grapes, cabbage, asparagus , (sathaavari),dandelion leaves (paalak).,pumpkin, Pepper, plums, peas onion,spices.are rich in beta carotene.

Foods Rich in Antioxidants for Eye Health:

Red berries, kiwi, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, and juices made from guava, grapefruit, and orange are rich in vitamin C.

Vegetable oils, nuts, green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoesl avocados, wheat germ, and whole grains. Vitamin E.
Carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, eggs,and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin A & Beta Carotine..

Salmon, sardine, flax seeds, soybeans and walnuts are rich in Essential Fatty Acids.
Eggs, kale, spinach, turnip greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, brocoli, zucchini, corn garden, peas, and brussels sprouts are rich in (Lutein & Zeaxanthin).

Red meat, poultry, oysters and other seafood, nuts, dried brans, soyfoods, milk and other dairy products, whole grains and fortifiledbreakfast cereals are reich in Zinc.
Water: During plenty of water can prevent dehydreation which may reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. Beta carotene is a precursor of vitamin A. we need vitamin A for healthy skin and mucus membranes, our immune system, and good eye, health and vision.

Warning sign of Smartphone or Internet overuse

Trouble completing tasks at work or home: If you are busy in chatting online, texting, or playing video games? Perhaps you find yourself working late more often because you can’t complete your work on time.

Isolation from family and friends: Is your social life suffering because of all the time you spend on your phone or other device? Do you feel like no one in y our “real” life—even your spouse—understands you like your online friends?

Concealing your smartphone use. Do you sneak off to a quiet place to use your phone? Do you hide your smartphone use or lie to your boss and family about the amount of time you spend online? our “real” life—even your spouse—understands you like your online friends?

Feeling of dread, anxiety, or panic if you leave your smartphone at home, the battery runs down or the operating system crashes. Or do you feel phantom vibrations—you think your phone has vibrated but when you check, there are no new messages or updates?

Treatment for smartphone and Internet addiction

If you need more help to curb your smartphone or Internet use, there are now specialist treatment centers that offer digital detox programs to help you disconnect from digital media. Individual and group therapy can also give you a tremendous boost in controlling your technology use.

Group support. Organizations such as Internet Tech Addiction Anonymous (ITAA) and On-Line Gamers Anonymous offer online support and face-to-face meetings to curb excessive technology use.

Vasantha.K.P