Delve into the world of myopia vision where Mister Spex provides a brief overview of how mass digitisation could be the key player in poor vision.
Did you know that one of the most potent side effects of mass digitisation has been to create a generation of short-sighted digital natives? And the trend is rising dramatically. A study appearing in the National Center for Biotechnology Information has found that too much screen time is linked to myopia vision (short-sightedness).
The Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050 study predicts that by 2050, nearly half of the world population will be myopic.
How do we see in 2050?
Lifestyle is linked to huge increase in myopia. Scientists now describe it as an epidemic and highlight the fact that increased screen time puts a strain on our eyes. Furthermore, the latest findings suggest “close-up work” and myopia vision may be linked, as our eyes are not designed to focus that close.
A growing number of people have access to the internet and are using it regularly.
According to numbers from the Office for National Statistics, less than 10% of adults in the UK are classified as “offliners”. Hence, virtually all adults aged 16 to 34 were recent internet users (99%) in 2018.
Exposure to daylight reduces the risk of myopia vision
The figures above show that mass digitisation, the internet and especially smartphones, have become an integral part of everyday life – both in the home and at work. Students and young professionals are online every day and working with a screen eight hours straight has become the norm.
However, scientists discovered that light therapy might help premature babies avoid vision problems, further evidence has shown that exposure to natural daylight reduces myopia in children. Even lower light intensity is sufficient for a protective effect.
The detrimental effects of mass digitisation
Luckily, there are some useful tips to beat eye strain. For example, you can adjust your screen’s height so that it is positioned 20-30 inches away from your face. Applying a glare reduction filter to your PC might also reduce the strain.
Conscious blinking can also give the eyes some relief, as well as moistening drops and ensuring that your work space is sufficiently ventilated.
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