Screen time issues are not going away anytime soon

Technology has become more of a necessity than a luxury, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic began. While technology does help connect us, excessive screen time can also lead to problems like eye strain. Because of this, we were curious to see if the pandemic has led to more eye issues in the last two years. The pandemic necessitated change in human lifestyle has put a tremendous effect on the vision power of the body.

COVID-19 is a systemic disease that affects many areas of the body, including the eyes. All sorts of mental health issues can affect vision, including anxiety, stress and depression. A survey with more than 1,000 people who wear glasses and/or contacts to get feedback on their eye health and eye habits throughout the past few years. Turns out that many people are having vision problems…but are putting off going to the doctor.

Two out of five people admit their eyesight has gotten worse since the onset of the pandemic. Nearly 70% report having more trouble seeing further away, and almost one-third are dealing with issues reading up close. Since March 2020, three out of 10 people have gotten stronger prescriptions for their glasses or contacts.

A survey reveals, one out of three admits to not getting their eyes checked over the last two years. In fact, 25% say they’ve actually avoided getting an eye test, even though they know they need one! Masks have also impacted how people wear glasses. More than one in 10 (13%) say they wear contacts now instead of glasses, purely because of masks.

Meanwhile, 25% of respondents say they wear their glasses more because of remote work. Technology has taken over workplaces across the globe and almost one in four (38%) say they spend more than eight hours a day looking at screens for their jobs. That comes with a cost. 29% say they feel that working from home has made their eyesight worse.

The top issues facing people who work remotely include eye strain, fatigue, headaches, and trouble sleeping. One out of every three surveyed adds that their eyes have started twitching while looking at screens. Some respondents are trying their best to cut back on screen time. One out of 10 has set limits for screen use on their phones. Overwhelmingly, 90% of people are setting limits on social media apps. One out of four people is cutting back on binge-watching and limiting their use of streaming services.

A lot of people wear old glasses or contacts every day. 43% say they are not wearing up-to-date prescriptions. More than 8 out of 10 people are wearing prescriptions that are two years or older. Of those, 17% told their glasses or contact prescriptions are more than five years old.

It means screen time issues are not going away anytime soon. If you use technology daily, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen and focus on something that is 20 feet away. It is advised to do it for at least 20 seconds to give your eyes a break.