Most of us use devices with screen readers every day. With a combination of TV, computers, tablets, e-readers, and smartphones, the average UK adult spends 5 hours each day looking at a screen and for many, it's much more.
Whilst screen time may not cause permanent damage it often leads to unhappy, irritated eyes and is a known cause of Dry Eye Syndrome.
Screens can dry your eyes for several reasons
Reduced Blinking
When you concentrate on a screen you blink less. Normally, you will blink 15 - 20 times every minute but when using a screen, this can reduce by 75%. If you are not blinking, the oily layer of your tears is not being spread across your eye, so your tears are literally evaporating away and your eyes are left dry and exposed. No wonder your eyes complain after a day of screen work.
Bright Screens
The brightness of a screen can make your eyes water but these reflex tears are more water than normal tears and will quickly evaporate away leading to your eyes drying.
Dry Atmosphere
A lot of large screens produce a dry heat which can evaporate the tears from your eyes. This is especially true if you are using a screen in a dry environment like a heated room or air-conditioned office.
You may have experienced tired and/or red eyes at the end of the day; or you find it hard to focus, feeling the need to stop work to rub your eyes; the screen may blur intermittently and clear again after a few, good, blinks. In extreme cases, your productivity at work might suffer because your eyes feel so burnt and stingy it interferes with your ability to concentrate on the task at hand.
