The world has over 3.5 billion smartphone users right now and on average, people spend 3 hours and 15 minutes on their smartphone. The need to protect eyes from the damage caused by cellphone use is more necessary now than ever before. 

Staring at your smartphone for prolonged hours can lead to various issues such as tired, itchy, and dry eyes, or even blurred vision and headaches. Since eye damage caused by cellphone use is often long term, it is best to tackle this issue by preventing it rather than looking for a cure later on. Read further to know more about how to prevent eye damage from cellphone use. 

What is the Effect of Mobile Screen on the Eyes? 

According to researchers, blue light from smartphones can be dangerous to the eyes and retina as it is not blocked by cornea and the lens, potentially increasing the risk of macular degeneration.

How to Prevent Eye Damage from Phones? 

Eye damage caused by cellphone use can be prevented by incorporating a few simple steps in your daily cellphone use routine. Here are a few ways on how to prevent eye damage from cellphone use:

1. Blink Often: We can forget to blink while staring at our smartphones. Blinking from time to time helps your eyes in two ways. Firstly, blinking helps reduce dryness and irritation by keeping your eyes moist. Secondly, blinking helps refocus your eyes. Blinking about 10 times in 15 minutes is considered the healthy amount. 

2. Follow the 20-20-20 Rule: As per the 20-20-20 rule, look away from your screen every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds, at an object that is 20 feet away. This ensures that your eyes are relaxed and get enough breaks, without missing out on much. 

3. Adjust Screen Brightness: Make sure that the brightness of your screen is on par with the light in your environment. Having your screen too bright or too dark can negatively impact your eyes. It is just a matter of a few seconds to change the brightness of your screen, which can go a long way in protecting your eyes against prolonged smartphone use. 

4. Adjust Text Size and Contrast: Make sure that the text and contrast of your screen are set appropriately so that it is visible to your eyes without causing much strain. This makes it easier for you to read web content, messages, email and everything else. 

5. Maintain a Clean Screen: Wipe your smartphone with a clean dry cloth from time to time. This ensures that dirt, dust and grime are cleaned off the surface of your phone, allowing for clear visibility and reduced strain on the eyes. 

6. Maintain Proper Distance: Most people hold their phone at a distance of about 8 inches from their face. However, holding your phone that close can be very damaging to the eyes. Maintain a distance of about 16 to 18 inches in order to protect your eyes from long-hours of smartphone use. 

7. Use Adequate Lighting: A lot of people browse their phones when their surroundings are completely dark. This can be damaging to your eyes. Although it is best to avoid this, lower your brightness level as much as possible while using your phone in the dark. You can also use a bedside lamp. This will make a significant amount of difference to your eyes. Some phones have Dark Mode or Night Light features that are very helpful in this regard.

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Make Prasad Netralaya Your Go-To Clinic for All Eye Problems!

Are you concerned about your smartphone use and its effect on your eyes? Do you have more questions about this topic that need to be answered? Prasad Netralaya is here to help you. 

Get your queries cleared and your eyes checked at Prasad Netralaya — Mangalore and Udupi’s most trusted Eye Care Hospital. Our experienced staff is here to make sure that you receive the quality ophthalmological care that you deserve. Call us at +91 9513596565 or book an appointment if you wish to visit in person. 

FAQs

1. Can phone usage damage your eyes? 

Prolonged exposure to blue light from cellphones can potentially harm the retina and disrupt sleep by affecting melatonin production.

2. How many hours of mobile usage is safe for eyes? 

Limiting screen time to 1-2 hours a day is recommended to protect your eyes and maintain healthy sleep patterns. 

3. Is dark mode good for eyes?

Dark mode is extremely helpful in reducing screen glare while also easing eye strain and fatigue, especially in low-light areas. 

4. What’s the best way to rest eyes from screen?

Try following the 20-20-20 rule:  Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to reduce eye strain.

5. Is 5 hours of screen time bad? 

Experts recommend keeping non-work screen time under two hours a day to promote physical activity and reduce excessive eye strain.