Are We Trading Clear Vision For Screen Time?

Eye health in the UK is not looking so good with figures from Eye Health UK, using data from York Health Economics Consortium, estimating that more than 1.6 million new cases of serious eye disease will appear over the next decade. That is equal to 1 case every 3 minutes.

Cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease are the main conditions behind the increase. Late age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the country, is expected to go up by 24%. Cases of glaucoma are forecast to go up by 13%.

David Cartwright, chair of Eye Health UK, said that half of all sight loss could be avoided if people booked regular tests and made lifestyle changes such as eating better, exercising, and quitting smoking. But many people are not doing that.

 

Are People Skipping Eye Tests?

 

4 in 10 adults do not book an eye test every 2 years, which is the recommended interval. Many delay check-ups until they notice problems, which often means it is too late for early treatment.

Cost is another issue, because people often ration eye tests as they are worried about paying for glasses. This prevents doctors from catching conditions early. The lifetime cost of a new case of age-related macular degeneration in an adult aged 50 or over is £73,350, showing how expensive late treatment can be.

What makes the situation more worrying is that more than 30 million people are entitled to free NHS sight tests. Vouchers are also available to help with the price of eyewear for those on low incomes, children and people with complex prescriptions. But many do not know about these benefits.

Research from Eye Health UK shows that 55% of people on low incomes do not know they can get free sight tests. Only 4 in 10 know about NHS help towards the cost of glasses. Cartwright said educating people about these entitlements is key to avoiding preventable vision loss.

 

Could Screens Be Adding To The Problem?

 

Since 2020, many workers have spent their week at home on laptops and phones. This has changed how long people stare at screens. At the same time, complaints of irritated eyes have gone up.

One condition linked to heavy screen use is blepharitis, which causes inflammation of the eyelids. It often affects both eyes at once and can be aggravated when people blink less while staring at screens. This makes the eyes dry and more likely to become irritated.

The NHS advises cleaning the eyes daily during flare-ups. Warm compresses, gentle massage of the eyelids, and cleaning with cotton wool can help.

Pharmacist Sultan Dajani and advisor to Golden Eye® makers of a range of drops and ointments to treat conjunctivitis, styes and blepharitis says: “Blepharitis is estimated to account for around 5% of eye-health- related GP visits and a survey of eye health professionals in the US found blepharitis in 37% of ophthalmology (the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders) cases and 47% of optometry (the examination of the eyes to detect vision defects and eye health issues) cases2. So, while it may seem like a mild irritation, blepharitis is no small issue – especially when you consider that those figures were gathered before the pandemic turned the world upside down.”

 

What Lifestyle Changes Help?

 

Diet and daily habits also affect eye health. Eye Health UK advises people at risk of macular degeneration to eat fruit, leafy vegetables and foods rich in omega-3 such as salmon and mackerel. Regular exercise, stopping smoking, keeping a healthy weight and protecting eyes from the sun also make a difference.

Dietary links extend to conditions like blepharitis. Foods high in sugar or trans fats can increase inflammation, while foods like blueberries, apples, and oily fish may calm it down. Probiotic foods such as yoghurt and sauerkraut can support gut health and boost the immune system, which also plays a role in eye conditions.

 

 

Is The Link Between Screen Time And Eyesight Proven?

 

Screen use does not cause the same long-term eye diseases as ageing, but it is adding new pressures. People working remotely spend longer on video calls and digital tasks, and many complain of eye irritation as a result. At the same time, regular sight tests are being skipped.

Pharmacist Sultan Dajani added: “People who used to physically go to work in an office each day are missing out on a lot of their former in-person social interaction. Work matters once discussed over a cuppa in the office kitchen are now resigned to video conferencing calls. This in itself may not seem like a huge issue (some may even prefer it this way) but when you add it to the other 7+ hours workers are now spending in front of a screen, it doesn’t leave much respite for the eyes.”

“According to a recent study, 93.6% (381/407) of people increased their digital device time after lockdown was put in place, equating to an average increase of 4.8 hours a day, and raising the average amount of screen time per day to 8.65 hours3. Sitting in front of a screen all day, focusing our eyes on one place, may cause us to blink less often4. This can present a big problem for the eyes as blinking is essential to spread tears over the ocular surface. If this isn’t happening at the required rate, the tear film can evaporate, which can irritate the cells lining the cornea, leading to inflammation and discomfort.”

“Adding insult to injury, the blue light from a screen is a powerful suppressor of melatonin, which we need to secrete to get a good night’s sleep5. Being exposed to it for prolonged periods, especially before bedtime can mean it takes us longer to get to sleep, and result in poorer quality sleep. This, in turn, can have an effect on how well our body’s immune system is able to fight off infections6 like blepharitis.”

Taken together, ageing, poor lifestyle habits and heavy screen use are creating the conditions for a rise in vision problems. Forecasts of 1.6 million new cases show the scale of what lies ahead. Simple measures like regular tests, better diets and more awareness of NHS entitlements could help keep eyesight healthy for longer.

 

Paul Morris, Director of Professional Advancement, Specsavers, said:

 

 

“Computer vision syndrome is a real and common condition that can cause your eyes to feel strained, dry and tired. In some cases you may experience headaches, discomfort and blurred vision.

“Symptoms are easily treated and managed. There is no evidence that the syndrome causes long-term sight problems, however regular eye care is vital.

“Spending long periods working on screens certainly puts our eyes under more strain, and it’s something that everyone should have in mind and can exacerbate eye issues that are a natural part of ageing, such as presbyopia. As a rule, workers who use screens should be giving their eyes a regular break by looking at something 20 metres away, for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes.

“If you use a screen for more than an hour a day at work, an employer has to provide you with a free eye test, and pay for glasses if you need them for work. This can be done through a HR lead and applies to any business – from new tech start-ups to major international firms with UK offices.”

 

Dr. Gregg Feinerman, Owner and Medical Director of Feinerman Vision in Newport Beach, California, said:

 

 

“Too much time in front of a digital screen not only leads to discomfort, it is actually affecting the tear film and ocular muscles in ways they are likely not aware. Many patients with 8-10 hours of daily screen time also blink 40% less which disturbs the lipid layer of tears and decreases the time to dry eye onset. This decreased blink rate also leads to surface corneal involvement happening more quickly and may be an indicator of faster progression of myopia in youth.

“In practice, I find that individuals whose report more than 6 hours of extended screen time also demonstrate measurable decreases in contrast sensitivity in about 2 years usually not attributable to other ocular disease. The issue is not fatigue, but actual loss of function that charges long term tissue strain on ocular tissues.

“Without proper breaks and ocular surface targeted treatments, the necessary trend of increasingly using screens for work, entertainment, and communication is leading to not only aggravation short term, but chronic vision function loss.”