This is what 11 hours a day in front of a screen is doing to your eyes

- Our addiction to screens is damaging more than our health

- Adults in United States spend an average of more than 11 hours a day using a screen

- In the UK, children are using screens for an average of six and a half hours a day

- 65% of American adults have reported symptoms of digital eye strain

- Symptoms of digital eye strain include blurred vision, dry eyes, neck and back pain and headache

- Screens on smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers emit blue light

- Blue light contains more energy than warmer colours

- High energy blue light can damage the retina and cause permanent loss of vision

- Excessive exposure to blue light can result in disrupted sleep patterns

- Too much screen time can alter brain structure and reduce brain function

- Children with the most screen time perform poorly in school exams

- Children spending two hours above average on screens dropped one grade in four subjects in GCSE exams (UK)

- Our bodies and eyes are not designed for modern digital lifestyles and workplaces

Technology has irreversibly changed how people live and work, but vision health has lagged dangerously behind. For today’s digital workforce, awareness of dangers and solutions is critical. Technology may be evolving rapidly, but we still only get one set of eyes.

# Take a 20 second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away (20-20-20 rule)

Roy Hessel

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