It is the first day of August. Oh, you probably know that.
After all, you just need to check the calendar app that is on your smartphone.
Great things, those smartphones; they are a true boon to making life convenient
and organized. Check and write emails and text messages, buy movie tickets,
make reservations…you name it, and the smartphone does it. But…take care…
This week’s Site
for Sore Eyes Berkeley blog is a throwback
to the age-old idiom of “how too much of a good thing can be bad for you.” In
this case (as you might have already guessed), the “bad” thing about excess
usage of your smartphone is the potentially damaging effects it may have on
your vision. And please understand – the staff here at Site for Sore Eyes is
NOT knocking the iPhone, Android, or whatever your smartphone of choice. We
just want to call attention to the fact that there is the risk of not-so-good
side effects if you are forever staring at a mobile screen.
A survey that was conducted in England several months ago,
it was reported that approximately 2,000 people check their smartphones 32
times a day. (We are mentioning England to point out that smartphone overuse is
a worldwide habit…not restricted to America.) The blue violet light that emits
from the screen of a phone can affect the back of the eye, as well as increase
the possibility of developing macular degeneration (a leading cause of
blindness).
Some more immediate problems from what we might call
“smartphone extremism,” is that, without realizing it, our vision gets so
riveted to the screen that our natural reflex to blink is affected. According
to Andy Hepworth, the optician interviewed for the survey, “...the combination
of not blinking enough and bringing the device closer than you normally look at
objects – it strains your eyes.” This can result in disrupted sleep patterns
and headaches. To read the full article from BBC News, click here.
So…you may ask…how do we limit or circumvent this problem?
The simple answer is to limit smartphone usage…which is MUCH easier said than
done. Reportedly, people can become irritated or go into panic mode if they
don’t have their phone with them. (So, there are even psychological side
effects.) They cannot be separated from them. Only several days ago, the news
reported the tale of a 13-year old girl who kept her smartphone under her
pillow while she slept…only to create a fire. Fortunately, she was not
hurt, but this is just how far the epidemic (yes, we think it can be called
that), to being addicted to our smartphones has become.
Will power – that is the first thing that each and every one
of us must strengthen in ourselves. As said earlier, this is easier said than
done, but the consequences could be serious, and many people the world over
will be sorry sooner or later. (That 13-year old girl is most definitely
sorry.) Take a conscious break for one hour where you do NOT look at your
phone. Build on this gradually, week by week. You may go through mobile
withdrawal, but it will be worth it. We don’t mean to sound grim, but the
health of your eyes (or even your life) is at risk if you don’t take healthy
breaks from your phone.
"Get your eyes tested regularly and take regular breaks
from your computer and hand held device." No, that is not a quote from us.
It is from another optician named Amanda Saint, who was also interviewed for
the BBC article. (YES! People get their eyes tested in other countries, also!)
One last thing before we sign off for the week. You no doubt
have Google Maps or some other form of GPS technology on your phone. Please
enter the coordinates for 2174
Shattuck Avenue, which is (that’s right), the address of our store in
Berkeley. Once you do that, navigate down for an eye exam.
Thanks for reading…enjoy the weekend…and keep your sites on
healthy vision.
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