In today’s world, there’s no escaping computer screens, smartphones, tablets, flatscreen TVs, and even digital billboards. They’re everywhere. And while going digital may be great for the trees, it can – just like certain foods or sources of energy – be harmful to our health when consumed in too high of a quantity. Below we break down three major ways in which too much screen time is affecting your mental and physical health, and what you can do about it.

VISION PROBLEMS

Gazing at screens for too long can cause a myriad of vision-related side effects. Notice those eyes growing dry after a long day of computer work or a video game binge? That’s because, when staring at computer screens, studies have shown weblink at less than half the rate we normally do. Computer usage also causes more incomplete blinks, meaning the eyelid does not fully close, so our natural tear liquid is not spread fully across the eye. Staring at screens for extended periods of time can also cause eye strain, blurred vision, and headaches. To avoid these issues, try to limit your screen time and take frequent breaks from such computer, tablet, or similar screen exposure.

ADDICTIVE TENDENCIES & SHORTENED ATTENTION SPANS

With how hungry we have become for instant answers, instant gratification, and constant stimulation through technology, this side effect of screen time may not come as a surprise. Have you been guilty of repeatedly reaching for your phone or scrolling through Facebook while in the middle of watching a movie on your TV? Do you get that itch every time you see a notification for an incoming text, a new “like” on Instagram, or an unopened email, making it unbearable to not check it? Our direct connection to everything and everyone through our technology, while also convenient, has led to certain addictive tendencies – addiction to instant replies from friends or family, instant knowledge from the internet, and instant gratification from hits on our social media. Our exposure to screens and this instant gratification they provide is heavily correlated to shortened attention spans as well. In fact, one study showed that just two hours per day of screen time increases a child’s likelihood of meeting the criteria for ADHD by eight when compared to a child who spends 30 minutes or less on devices per day. But there’s hope. Our attention spans are like muscles – you can exercise to build them back up. For starters, become aware of and try limiting the number of times you check your phone, especially while engaged in another activity, conversation, or form of entertainment.

DISRUPTED SLEEP PATTERNS

The blue light that emanates from our tech screens is the same type of blue light that we’re exposed to by way of the Sun every day. Thanks to many years of evolution, our bodies use blue light as a cue to stay alert and awake, since, in nature, we are only exposed to it during the day. So, it makes sense that when our eyes are locked on our blue light-emitting computers, TV screens, or phones late into the evening, our brains have difficulty shutting down for bedtime and maintaining a normal sleep rhythm. And a lack of proper sleep can lead to a plethora of health issues. To combat this, try avoiding blue light screens an hour before bed so your brain can give the cue to release melatonin, which will help you sleep peacefully through the night. Another option, especially if avoidance of screens late at night is all but impossible, is to invest in a pair of blue light blocking glasses, which filter out the stimulating blue light emitted from devices before they can reach the eye.

It’s no mystery that our devices play a significant role in modern society and our individual lives. They do a great service to us by making information available at the touch of a button, connecting loved ones from across the globe, and serving as a source of endless entertainment. But just like anything else, these sources should be consumed in moderation and with awareness.

YOU MAY LIKE

WHAT IS BLUE LIGHT ?

If you wear prescription glasses, do you prefer frame glasses or contact lenses, if you prefer contact lenses, do you know what happens when you sleep in your contact lenses？

If you wear contacts, you’ve probably been there before – maybe you fell asleep with your lenses in after a late night, or you took a little nap without being bothered to take them out – what harm can 15 a fifteen-minute nap do, right? Well, you’re not alone. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one-third of all contact wearers fall asleep with their lenses in. But even if you’ve skated by so far without suffering the repercussions of this practice, we’ve got some information that might make you think twice the next time you’re feeling too lazy to take out those lenses.

In the human eye, the cornea is part of your body’s defense against bacteria and infection. Eyes are regularly bombarded by contaminants, but the cornea prevents them from becoming infections. However, in order for the cornea to function properly, it needs adequate levels of oxygen and hydration. Contacts not only accumulate their own bacteria throughout the day, but they vastly decrease the eye’s accessibility to oxygen and hydration because they fit so snugly against the cornea, which is why removing them prior to sleep (and soaking them in disinfecting solution) is so important for your eyes to recuperate overnight.

As you can imagine, when you wear those contacts while sleeping (especially if you tend to do this on a regular basis), those oxygen and hydration levels decrease even further, which is why you will most likely wake up with red, dry eyes and have difficulty removing your lenses the following morning. But in addition to the temporary discomfort that comes after sleeping in your contacts, this habit can have graver consequences. Without enough oxygen, the cells of the cornea lose their ability to efficiently defend the eye from outside contaminants, which could, in turn, lead to infections like conjunctivitis (pink eye), bacterial keratitis, or acanthamoeba keratitis. In fact, The Center for Contact Lens Research states that those who sleep in their lenses increase their risk of keratitis by 10 times.

If you do accidentally fall asleep in your lenses one night, however, don’t panic. Just remove your contacts as soon as possible (use additional eye lubricant if you have trouble taking them out), apply eye drops, and give those eyes rest for a day before using contacts again. In fact, giving yourself a routine break from contact lenses is never a bad idea. Think of it as an opportunity to rock a pair of your favorite Jim Halo frames.