We’re better informed than ever about how our bodies work,
and we know a lot about what we put our bodies through day to day. But our eyes
are perhaps the worst off, primarily because of mobile phones, and because
these devices have become something most of us cannot do without.
Flurry analytics is a firm that deals with the question of mobile phone usage.
Their recent research states that the average American spends 5 hours each day using a mobile phone. This is
concerning because it showed a 20% increase compared to 2015. When you do the
math, it turns out that we spend 1800 hours a year on our mobile phones. We can
all agree that this much exposure hurts our eyes.
Research clearly shows that our devices cause dry eyes and degeneration which can lead to blindness in extreme cases and over longer periods of time. However, you should not be afraid right away because there is something you can do to prevent this from happening.
Avoid Blue Light
Our devices emit a blue light which is actually what irritates the eye and
leads to damage. However odd it may seem, those blue lights affect our sleep
quality. They also cause a strain on your eyes and damage the retina. Luckily,
newer phone features allow you to adjust the color and brightness levels. In
addition to this, many apps let you change the color balance if that’s what you prefer.
Use Bigger Fonts
Even though bigger fonts are not something you like, they can reduce the strain
on your eyes. This solution is also among the easiest considering that every
phone has this setting.
Adjust Brightness Level
Another option that you can keep an eye on is the brightness level. By
adjusting it, you are looking out for your eyes. As in any other aspect of life, it is best to
find the middle ground. It’s not only high brightness levels that hurt your
eyes; low brightness does it too, despite making your battery last longer.
Also note that the brighter the display is on your smartphone during the night,
the worse your eyes will feel, and your sleep will suffer too.
Rest your eyes occasionally
The most logical step is to put your phone down and give your eyes some time to
recover. The recommended recovery time
is every 20 minutes for a minute or two, whether you’re using your phone or
computer.
Use Specialized Glasses
There is a special type of glasses called blue-light glasses that lessen the
damaging effect of blue light. They are meant for anyone who overuses their
phone or people whose job involves long hours in front of a computer. Some
glasses may cost over 100$, but you can get them on Amazon for as little as
20$.
Just Blink
Glasses can be expensive, and nature came up with blinking to prevent dry eyes,
so don’t forget to blink!
Move Farther Away
Another free and easy way of reducing strain is to move the screen farther away. Like any other light source, it hurts your eyes after a while. So, make a habit of changing the distance at which you hold your phone.
- https://flurrymobile.tumblr.com/post/157921590345/us-consumers-time-spent-on-mobile-crosses-5
