A team from Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) visited the ICR center to carry out a report on the ocular pathologies derived from the increase in the use of screens.
The report had the participation of ICR specialists Dr. Ignasi Jürgens – Medical Director – and Hanan Haulani – Optometrist – and was broadcast on Sunday November 22nd on RTVE under the title “Secuelas del Pantallazo“. The program also analyzed muscle-skeletal problems and addictions to electronic devices.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought changes to our daily lives at record speeds. Some of the most obvious examples are remote working, remote study and communication via telematics. These, along with the use of screens for entertainment or online shopping, have increased the time we spend in front of the screen, reaching up to 10 or 12 hours a day.
In some cases, such as the young student featured in the report, intensive use of screens can affect vision and cause vision problems and headaches, which is why a complete eye examination is necessary.
As ICR optometrist Hanan Haulani points out, we are used to using distance vision and now society conditions us to use near vision. These changes in habits have consequences at the eye.
On the other hand, Dr. Jürgens, medical director of ICR, assures that exposure to screens can produce dry eyes, eye pain, increased myopia, increased presbyopia and even sleep disorders. He also indicates that since the year 2000 there has been a growth in myopia in the population and that it is estimated that by the year 2050 the current number of cases will have multiplied by three, so if this continues, we could be facing a true “myopia pandemic”.
Nowadays we cannot do without screens, but Dr. Jürgens advises to make a visual hygiene by applying the so called “20-20-20 rule“: every 20 minutes rest the eyes for 20 seconds and observe objects that are at a distance of approximately 20 feet (about 6 meters). It is also important to make periodical ophthalmological checkups to detect possible ocular pathologies.
You can view the full report at the following link: Repor RTVE- Secuelas del pantallazo.
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