Texan Mosaic

By Christian Smith

South Plains College sophomore Karsten Portell looks at his computer screen a lot.

 “It really hurts my eyes when I cram homework or study and don’t take my eyes off the computer screen,” he says.

And, of course, Portell is probably not alone.  It’s that time of semester when students start to stress about their workload.  They stay up late nights cramming for tests, finishing homework at the last minute, and staring at screens.

According to the Vision Council, a nonprofit trade association for manufacturers and suppliers of the optical industry, more than 80 percent of adults use devices with screens for more than two hours a day.  It says almost 67 percent claim to use multiple devices at once, and nearly six out of 10 American adults report digital eye strain symptoms that include:

• Neck/shoulder pain
• Headaches
• Eye strain
• Blurred vision
• And dry eyes

And what about blue light?  According to UC Davis, about one- third of all visible light is considered blue light. 

 “Sunlight is the biggest source of blue light,” the school’s site says.  “Artificial sources of blue light include fluorescent light, LED TVs, computer monitors, smartphones, and tablet screens.”

How does extended exposure to blue light affects our eyes?  The answer to that probably depends on what you read. 

According to eyesafe.com, “Our blue light exposure from digital devices is of particular concern.  Because of the close proximity of the screen, length of time we use our devices, and the cumulative impact of using devices every day.”

Eyesafe.com, though is, according to its website, a worldwide supplier of advanced blue light mitigating technology, solutions, and standards.  So it has a vested interest in claiming blue light can increase the likelihood of vision problems.

UC Davis health blog backs up Eyesafe, however, by saying that extended exposure to blue light could damage retinal cells and cause damage such as age-related macular degeneration.

On the other hand, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says blue light exposure from too much screen time is not blinding us as “alarmist” headlines claim.   It says there is no scientific proof that blue light from screens causes damage to your eyes.  It does say that the pain in our eyes after staring at our screens is most likely due to digital eye strain and does not permanently damage your eyes.

 “The simple solution,” the site writes, “is to look at least 20 feet away, for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes.”

SPC Associate Director of Health and Wellness DeEtte Edens agrees. “Go outside, go do other things,” she says.

Edens also says some concern has to do with how close you are to your screens. She said TVs aren’t as bad for you as watching TikToks on your phone at night, and it’s because of how close you are to the screen.

And now that you know the dangers and how to protect yourself, it’s time to put it into action.  Exams or no, maybe don’t stare at a screen all the time.  “You just have to limit your time with screens,” Edens says.  “You need to be aware.”