CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Heartland News) – While most of us know that smartphones are impacting our ability to focus, problems may go beyond that.
A recent article by Fast Company suggests that screen time may come with health consequences, including digital eye strain, neck pain from looking down for extended periods of time and even changes in hand strength from repetitive use.
Optometrist Dr. Alan Branson says that digital eye strain is a common issue he sees in patients but acknowledges that it goes beyond that.
“At the very base of your neck is the part that does a lot of eye functions… When people are pinching their neck, you can get vertebrae compressed. You can get pinched nerves. You can get muscle spasms. Those kinds of things,“ Branson said. ”All of those things can interfere with eyes as well because all of that stuff is all in the same place. It’s right there.”
While completely ridding oneself of screentime may be impossible this day in age, Branson has a couple of easy tips to follow in your everyday life.
- While looking at a screen, make sure that every 20 minutes you take 20 seconds and look 20 feet away
- Replace some texting with phone calls
- Spend time face to face and go outside when you can
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