Taking care of our eyes becomes even more crucial as we age. With today's technology, the time our senior family members spend on screens to receive news, connect with friends, and seek entertainment complicates eye health.
Prolonged screen exposure isn't without its risks, especially for seniors. Too much time looking at smartphones and tablets may lead to eye strain and exacerbate age-related vision issues. This blog post will guide you through simple, practical measures to maintain healthy eyesight, even with screen time.
Risks Associated With Prolonged Screen Exposure
Spending long hours in front of a screen may lead to a condition known as digital eye strain. Symptoms may include dry, irritated eyes, blurry vision, or headaches. Our eyes lose some of their resilience as we age, and continuous screen use often speeds up this process. If not addressed, these symptoms may evolve into more severe conditions like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration over time. Therefore, finding ways to reduce these risks is crucial to maintaining our overall well-being.
Practical Tips for Maintaining Healthy Eyesight
It's possible to take care of your eyes in this digital age by following the steps below:
- Implement regular breaks: Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, shift your gaze to something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple act can significantly reduce the strain on your eyes.
- Adjust your display settings: Many digital devices allow you to customize brightness, contrast, and text size to your liking. A brightness level that matches your surroundings may reduce eye strain, and increasing text size means your eyes won't need to squint or strain to read. Also, consider switching to a light-on-dark text setting if it's easier on your eyes.
- Pay attention to your posture: How you sit or stand while using devices also impacts your vision. Ensure your screen sits just below eye level and about arm's length away to avoid eye strain and neck pain. Taking these steps isn't just about protecting your eyes but also about total body wellness.
- Include some simple eye exercises in your daily routine: Frequent blinking may help moisten the eyes, reducing dryness and irritation. Try looking far away at an object for 10-15 seconds, then gaze at something close for 10-15 seconds. Repeat a few times throughout the day.
We Can Help
Keeping our eyes healthy, particularly with increasing screen time, is essential to age well. Implementing the tips discussed in this post may help reduce the potential risks associated with prolonged screen use. Even small changes can make a big difference, whether it’s taking regular breaks, adjusting your display settings, maintaining good posture, or incorporating eye exercises into your daily routine.
If you're living in Irving, Dallas, or Grand Prairie and need extra help, don't hesitate to contact us at Senior Helpers Irving. We're here to support seniors in maintaining their overall health and well-being, including eye health. We offer many services to assist seniors and their caregivers, like Wellness Watch and Personal Care. We'd love to make a positive difference in your life.