How much screen time do you spend on your computer, TV, or other devices? Have you ever wondered if it’s affecting your eyesight? If you want to keep seeing as well as possible for years to come, consider limiting the amount of time you spend on your devices, especially in the evening and before bedtime when your eyes are already working harder to adjust to darkness. This is even more important if you’re not drinking enough water and eating well or if you have other medical issues like diabetes that make it difficult to maintain good eye health.
Screen time
Kids these days spend a ton of time looking at screens, whether they’re playing video games or watching TV. As a result, their eyes are often too dry to properly focus on what they’re looking at. When your eyes don’t have enough water in them, it can make them feel strained and you might even notice it gets harder to blink when you look at screens for long periods of time. Dry eye syndrome can also be caused by stress or a poor diet – so making sure you get plenty of water and eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids (like salmon and walnuts) can help maintain healthy eyes and prevent dry eye syndrome from occurring.
Low water intake
Over time, when you don’t drink enough water, your eyes can get weak. It might be because low water intake is bad for a lot of things and it may be because cells in your body need water to function properly. Drinking just 8 glasses of water daily can prevent several eye diseases. You should always try to drink at least 2-3 glasses of water on an empty stomach before going to bed. This will flush out all toxins from your body and rejuvenate your eyes by strengthening their immune system.
Eye problems
Both a poor diet and too much screen time can contribute to eye problems, says Dr. Donald Abrams, an internist at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. In fact, he’s seen more children with nearsightedness than ever before. Part of that can be attributed to better nutrition as children today have access to more fruits and vegetables than kids growing up in previous generations. But also children are spending too much time on screens—particularly indoors—and light is needed for proper development of a child’s eyesight and focusing power. The risks aren’t just for kids: If you use your computer or smartphone without taking breaks or when you’re tired (hello 3 am email checking), it can strain your eyes as well as your neck and back muscles.
