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Research Finds 70 Percent Of Millennials Suffer From Digital Eye Strain

by Gillian Fuller
Clear eyes

It's no secret spending hours a day scrolling through Twitter and Instagram is pretty bad for your eyes.

But just how damaging this digital devotion can be may surprise you.

According to a recent study conducted by The Vision Council, nearly 70 percent of Millennials suffer from digital eye strain, a condition born out of excessive exposure to digital screens (such as computers or smartphone screens).

Those who suffer from this condition may experience blurry vision, excessive eye irritation (like redness or dryness), watery eyes and headaches. More serious side effects of our digital dependency include vision loss and cataract formation.

The Vision Council reports the glowing, blue light emitted by screens is a major cause for eye strain, and repeat exposure can damage retinal cells, resulting in permanent vision changes or loss.

Unfortunately, avoiding screens altogether is pretty much impossible, unless you live in the Australian Outback or Siberia.

That being said, The Vision Council does have guidelines on how to reduce digital eye strain. Look away from your screen as much as possible. In your downtime, avoid the computer, television and your tablet, and give your eyes a break.

When you're working, stick to the 20-20-20 break rule; it suggests taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away.

The UK's Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations department advises taking a five to 10-minute break for every hour spent looking directly at a digital screen.

Adjusting computer settings -- increasing text size and reducing brightness, for example -- can also help.

If all else fails, you can at least try and get a sick day out of your job-induced vision issues.

Worker's comp, anyone?

Citations: 68 percent of millennials report digital eye strain how to soothe the ache (Mashable)