Smartphones are ubiquitous these days. You most likely spend a lot of time looking at yours, which is why eye doctors want patients to understand the dangers of exposing their eyes to too much light from a smartphone screen. While you may not be able to completely live without it, you should limit how often you use your mobile device. 

3 Reasons Eye Doctors Suggest Using Your Smartphone Less 

1. Blue Light Causes Damage

Mobile device screens emit what’s known as blue light. This is a particular type of light with a short wavelength, which means it contains more potential energy than light with longer wavelengths.

This also means it can do more damage to your vision than other light. Overexposure to blue light has been shown to contribute to conditions like macular degeneration. It also disrupts your sleep cycle, which can cause a wide range of health issues.

2. Trying to Read on a Smartphone Causes Eye Strain

When personal computers first became popular, optometrists had to warn patients to take breaks from sitting in front of the PC screen. Trying to read on a screen can eventually result in eye strain.

The problem is worse with smartphones. You have to strain even harder to read text on a small screen. This causes everything from headaches to potential worsening of your vision.

3. Smartphones Can Cause Temporary “Blindness”

It’s a condition called transient blindness. It can occur when you’re looking at a bright screen in a dark room with just one eye. For instance, if you’re lying in bed while checking your phone with one eye blocked by the pillow, one eye becomes adjusted to the dark, and the other doesn’t. Thus, that eye goes blind for a few moments.

While it’s only temporary, it still proves that smartphones have clear, obvious impacts on your vision. To learn more, schedule an eye exam with your optometrist, and ask for tips to limit the damage. Are you looking for an eye doctor in the Greensboro or High Point, NC, area? If so, call Digby Eye Associates, PA at (336) 230-1010 in Greensboro or (336) 230-1010 in High Point. With two convenient locations, dozens of helpful staff members, and a range of services, they’re the solution to your eye health needs. Contact them online to learn more about becoming a patient.