What is the first thing you do in the morning? Do you pick up your phone to check your email and catch up with the news?
An hour or two later when there isn’t much to do, is it likely that you use your phone to surf the Internet or watch something on Netflix? Finally before bedtime, how long do you tend to play on your phone? Maybe you need to check Twitter one last time to make sure you haven’t missed out on anything. If this sounds a lot like you, then you are not alone.
As Apple and Samsung compete for your love, society recognises that having a multi-functioning phone is normal.
These days our use for smartphones go beyond texting and calling, so it’s no wonder that according to Ofcom, the communications regulator, adults spend eight hours and 41 minutes on average on their smartphones a day.
But what price are we willing to pay for this excessive use of our smartphones?
In recent years, we have been gifted with some of the most advanced technology the world has ever seen. Smartphones are installed with an LED screen, which after staring at it for a long period of time, can give people a ‘hangover feeling’ plus strained eyes, due to a blue light emitted from these devices.
The review of optometry has shown that looking at phones, computers, tablets and flat screen TV’s for extensive amounts of time could potentially lead to long-term damage to your eyes. As we tend to use our phones at such a close proximity to our eyes, we can harm our retina as we stare at screens for long lengths of time without blinking.
This blue light emitted from our smartphones can change our body levels of melatonin. This chemical is needed to help your body to go to sleep, and just like your body and mind, your eyes need a significant amount of rest to function normally. Over exposure to this blue violet light has the potential to put us at greater risk of macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.
As it is considered normal to use our phones as much as we do, we may not even realise that it can affect our eyes.
A study from Android app, Locket in 2013, showed that the average person unlocked their smartphones more than 100 times per day.
This may sound like a high number, but it is a very realistic look on our technology use.
So we may take our eyes for granted sometimes but to decrease the chances of anything serious happening it never hurts to get your eyes tested, as it is normally quick and painless. A lot of opticians offer a free first eye test, or deals to get your first pair of prescription glasses for free (we do this at our store in Kent.) If not, a small charge may be applied.
And for those worried about the social stigma around glasses, you need worry no longer. Glasses are ultra chic and stylish, if you need proof, ideas or some inspiration for help choosing glasses that suit you and your personality then head over to our lifestyle blog.