What Happens When You Spend 1 Extra Hour on Screens Daily: Study
A new study shows that just 1 hour of daily screen time can increase the risk of myopia (nearsightedness). Let’s find out how it works and what you can do to protect your eyes.
What Is Myopia (Nearsightedness)?
Myopia is when you can see close objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurry. It happens when the eye is too long or the lens doesn’t focus light properly on the retina.
The study found that each extra hour of screen use raises the chances of developing myopia by 21%. It looked at over 335,000 people and showed a clear link between screen time and eye health.
How Screen Time Affects Eyes
The risk of myopia goes up with 1-4 hours of screen time. Spending less than 1 hour on screens doesn’t seem to increase the risk, showing there might be a safe limit.
Why Does Screen Time Cause Myopia?
Staring at screens for long periods forces your eyes to focus closely. This strain can lead to the eyeball growing longer, which causes nearsightedness.
How to Protect Your Eyes from Myopia
Limit screen time to under 1 hour, take breaks every 20 minutes (look at something far away for 20 seconds), and spend more time outside. This helps reduce eye strain and lowers the risk of myopia.
Managing screen time is key to protecting your eyes. Follow simple tips to keep your vision sharp and reduce the risk of myopia.