A new study by Lenstore has analysed digital consumption across 40 countries to identify which devices cause the most harm to our eyes.
COVID-19 has radically shifted the way time is spent online. Being connected to friends and family online has never been more crucial to our mental health. However, spending all this extra time on digital devices, whether that’s our gaming devices, TV’s, or smart tablets – being conscious of the time you spend on devices is important to keep tabs on.
The research revealed that worldwide we spend an average of 9 hours and 45 minutes looking at digital devices per day. It was found 3 out of 4 GPs and opticians say that they see more eye health problems now compared to 10 years ago, and 19% of GPs stated that the overuse of technology is to blame for eye health issues. All raising the question, what should you do to protect your eye health in 2021.
Lenstore’s research revealed that on average in Europe, 9.01 hours are spent looking at screens per day. Romania has the greatest digital consumption spending 10.90 hours on screens per day, followed by Poland at 9.47 hours and the UK with 9.27 hours.
Top 10 European countries with the highest screen time
Rank | Country | Hours Spent (Daily) | ||||
Using the internet – smartphones | Using the internet – computers | Watching TV | Using a games console | Total usage | ||
1 | Romania | 3.16 | 4.05 | 3.22 | 0.47 | 10.90 |
2 | Poland | 2.51 | 3.35 | 3.18 | 0.43 | 9.47 |
3 | UK | 2.07 | 3.21 | 3.42 | 0.57 | 9.27 |
4 | Italy | 2.42 | 3.18 | 3.07 | 0.49 | 9.16 |
5 | Ireland | 2.41 | 3.07 | 3.12 | 0.47 | 9.07 |
6 | Spain | 2.34 | 3.07 | 3.11 | 0.54 | 9.06 |
7 | Portugal | 2.45 | 3.53 | 2.38 | 0.31 | 8.67 |
8 | France | 1.59 | 3.09 | 3.19 | 0.56 | 8.43 |
9 | Austria | 2.19 | 3.06 | 2.48 | 0.32 | 8.05 |
10 | Denmark | 1.58 | 3.09 | 3.03 | 0.34 | 8.04 |
The study shows computers cause the greatest impact on eye health across Europe, followed by TV and mobile phones. However, the study demonstrates how every country is affected by different digital devices. Individuals in the UK are the most likely to be affected by games console and TV screen time in comparison to the rest of Europe. Whereas in Romania, computer and mobile phone screen time have the greatest impact.
7 Steps to protect your eyes when using a computer
When using a computer there are a number of steps you can take:
- Locate the computer between 40 and 76 centimetres (16 to 30 inches) from your eyes.
- Ensure the top of the computer is level with, or slightly below, your eyes.
- Make sure the screen is tilted away from you at a 10-to-20-degree angle.
- Check that there are no distracting reflections on the screen, such as from a window.
- Adjust the font size on your screen so it’s easy to read.
- Use document holders for reading or reference materials. Place them close to the screen at the same distance from your eyes. This will enable your eyes to remain focused as they move between the screen and the documents.
- Use a character size that is easy to see. Character size is an important factor since it determines the distance at which you view the monitor.
