When technology makes life easier… but is unknowingly harming your eyes In the digital age where work and daily life cannot avoid screens, our eyes face prolonged use of computers, tablets, and mobile phones, which directly affects eye health often without many noticing.
Digital Eye Alert is an important warning sign that prolonged use of digital screens may cause problems such as eye fatigue, dry eyes, eye pain, blurred vision, and premature vision deterioration. These issues often start from small daily habits but if neglected, can become a silent threat affecting long-term vision quality.
Being aware of the impact of technology and learning how to properly care for your eyes in the digital age is essential to help preserve eyesight, reduce the risk of eye health problems, and maintain good vision for as long as possible.
Let’s check our symptoms to see if we are at risk of eye health problems from looking at screens > 6 hours/day
- Experiencing eye fatigue / burning, irritation / tearing / headache, eye socket pain
- Intermittent blurred vision, sensitivity to light
- Heavy eyelids, feeling sleepy all the time
- Rapid changes in vision, unstable eyesight
Common conditions known as the “silent diseases of the digital age” include
- Increasing abnormal vision problems
- Rising incidence of “dry eye” with more severe symptoms
Currently, it is found that on average, workers use screens 8–10 hours/day, especially after the COVID-19 era with work-from-home (WFH). Constant screen exposure has significantly increased the problem of myopia.
Studies show that abnormal vision conditions are on the rise globally. WHO predicts that by 2050, over half the world’s population (50%) or more than 3.5 billion people will have myopia. Those with high myopia greater than 6.00 diopters are at risk of other eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, or cataracts.
Risk factors and behaviors that harm the eyes
- Increasing age, underlying diseases
- Continuous eye use, staring at screens for more than 2 hours without breaks, using mobile phones while lying down, screen brightness too high
- Sitting in air-conditioned rooms all day
- Not wearing blue light filtering glasses
- Blocked meibomian glands on the eyelids
Prevention guidelines and eye care techniques in the digital age
- Change eye usage behavior by following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes of work, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds
- Adjust the environment by setting lighting and screen distance 50–70 cm from the eyes, and adjust the screen to match ambient light
- Blink more often and slowly blink fully
- Regularly apply warm compresses to the eyelids using a warm wet cloth or a 40-45°C warm compress for 5-10 minutes, then clean the eyelids and lash roots with mild baby shampoo to reduce blockage and stimulate meibomian gland function to produce tears
- Nutrition and foods beneficial for the eyes such as
- Lutein, zeaxanthin (in dark green leafy vegetables)
- Vitamins A, C, E, Zinc
- Drink enough clean water (to reduce dry eye symptoms)
- Use artificial tears to keep eyes moist
If symptoms do not improve or severe abnormalities occur, consult an ophthalmologist for proper treatment using specialized technology such as light therapy (Eyelight).
Dry eye treatment with IPL and LLLT technology (Intense Pulsed Light + Low Level Light Therapy)
This innovation uses high-intensity light to treat dry eye caused by blocked meibomian glands on the eyelids (MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION). It has been recognized as a standard treatment for dry eye since 2017 (DEWS II guideline for dry eye treatment).
- Stimulates cellular function to increase tear production long-term
- Helps reduce inflammation
- Softens oils to reduce blockage
- Constricts abnormal blood vessels on the eyelids
- Kills bacteria and Demodex mites on the eyelashes
“Vision quality affects quality of life” >>> We only have one pair of eyes, so everyone should take care and use them gently
- Use technology wisely and with awareness
- Change eye usage habits to help slow vision deterioration
- Regularly care for our eyes to maintain good vision health, which will enhance learning and work efficiency
Dr. Kittikamon Wongpaisansin
Ophthalmologist specializing in cornea and vision correction
Phayathai 3 Hospital Eye and LASIK Center
For further inquiries, contact 02-467-1111 ext. 1438
📞 Hotline 080-798-2020
LINE Official: @bangkok-lasik
