Your patients are often unaware of how frequently they look at screens during the day. In reality, they are constantly surrounded by light sources such as digital devices and LED lights that emit a disproportionate amount of blue light. Blue light tends to scatter throughout the vitreous humor when entering the eye, causing so-called “visual noise”.
Patients may perceive this as uncomfortable glare and a reduction in contrast perception. Additionally, blue light causes longitudinal aberrations that may lead to blurred images. This unfocused “visual noise” can contribute to visual discomfort and symptoms associated with digital eye strain.
Common symptoms of digital eye strain (DES) are:
- headaches
- blurred vision
- dry or burning eyes
Fortunately, these symptoms can be alleviated with little effort. Those affected can try to reduce their screen time, and they can also wear glasses with blue light blocking lenses.