We must also consider the emotional side effects of a reliance on our screens. 6 Of course, other factors may complicate the presence of these physical issues, such as obesity, exercise (or lack thereof), and general posture while viewing screens, so it may not be the result of any one cause. Similarly, greater exposure (2-5 hours or more) exacerbates the risk for these symptoms. In addition, there can be non-eyestrain symptoms that stem from our screen viewing, such as neck and shoulder discomfort, and back pain. On the other hand, some have seen a reduction in symptoms, which may indicate greater adaptation to our new normal as well as enhanced control over their immediate environment.
Many even acknowledged that their screen time had increased by 3 or more hours per day, with headaches, migraines and light-related pain among the top complaints that were occurring more frequently. The rise in device usage, which was reported among nearly 80% of patients with photophobia, is believed to directly cause an increase in related symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an equally dramatic impact on those with light sensitivity. At minimum, the evidence shows that longer amounts of time in front of a computer or television screen increase the likelihood of an eventual attack or symptomatic period. Moreover, we can’t even quantify how much is “too much” screen time for this audience because a few minutes of light exposure can aggravate a light-sensitive brain. So an individual with post-concussion photophobia might also experience the onset of dizziness or fatigue (if those are regular symptoms) due to their exposure to screen light. Other symptoms beyond those associated with digital eye strain can manifest too because light can trigger or worsen just about any symptom of a light-sensitive condition. This means people diagnosed with migraine or survivors of brain injury are among those vulnerable to screen exposure-but there are dozens of conditions that can cause photophobia! What about for people who are already sensitive to light? Excess screen time poses a particular problem for them because their light sensitivity (also known as photophobia) is the result of additional brain hyperreactivity to wavelengths of blue light (which is present in screen light), even in otherwise acceptable viewing conditions. 5 This massive increase in daily exposure was a risk factor for these problems. Researchers also found that 50% of kids had signs of digital eye strain, with approximately 10% exhibiting severe symptoms-most commonly itching around the eye and headache. One study found that more than a third of children were using their devices in excess of 5 hours per day, an astonishing 16x increase from before the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic, which began widely in spring 2020, has resulted in more time in front of a screen as well. 2,3 General headache complaints were also more likely when watching television or playing video/computer games for more than 3 hours per day. For example, dry eye symptoms were more prominent and severe among young adults, and the risk for migraine-like headache (along with other sensory symptoms) also increased with a longer duration of exposure-specifically, several hours per day. Research also indicates that increased screen time worsens these problems, even among healthy individuals.
The reported complaints include:Īlthough there are conflicting opinions about the extent to which screens cause these symptoms (and even how they cause them), we can’t deny that millions of people have felt these effects after long hours on their devices. There are a multitude of temporary symptoms that fall under the umbrella term “digital eye strain” and are associated with computer and device use. But again, the truth is we just don’t know with any certainty. 1 Exposure to higher energy blue light, which does emanate from our devices, also has been linked to changes in eyesight over time. The question comes up again and again: does looking at our screens for too long lead to eyesight problems, particularly later in life? The clinical evidence around this topic is inconclusive, with some recent studies suggesting a possible association between more screen time and the presence of myopia, or nearsightedness. But how much is too much screen time? And what are the actual consequences you might experience? We turn to the experts and researchers for a fresh take on screen use guidelines. We have all heard a lot about the impact of screen time on our overall health and wellbeing, from the dangers of blue light exposure to the negative effects of social media dependency.
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