Digital screens are quickly becoming integrated into all aspects of our daily lives. The average American spends 11 hours in front of screens every day while the average child spends seven. It is important to take steps to minimize these effects by implementing the 20-20-20 rule and reducing screen glare. The symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, back pain and neck pain, to name a few. Screens can also affect our vision in other ways, including causing retinal damage and increasing the risk of long-term vision problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
There is also a great concern for how screens are also affecting our children. One study found that children who spend 8.5 or more hours in front of screens dropped one entire grade in four subjects in UK exams. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies under 18 months old do not interact with screens unless they are video chatting with family.
In light of emerging research that has shown the dangers of increased screen time, these numbers are startling. South Texas Eye Institute created the below infographic to explore research that has been done on the link between screen use and overall health in more detail below.