Combating Digital Eye Strain
D
by
Bonni e
igital Eye Strain (DES) is a problem for you. I can almost guarantee it. If not for you personally, you know someone who regularly gazes wearily at a screen, rubs their eyes then the back of their neck. Very few of us have lifestyles that do not involve staring at some sort of artificial light source for several hours each day. Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, computer, or TV, we have moved beyond the pen and page. Digital technology enhances our efficiency and enjoyment and connects us to the world in ways we could never have imagined decades ago, but it comes with risks as well.
52
ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING
Brooks,
MD
Health risks we are just now recognizing. Scientists and doctors have discovered that our modern digital screens emit wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum that can disrupt our natural sleep patterns, dry and irritate our eyes, and potentially cause irreparable harm to the back lining of our eyes called the retina. Let’s take a short journey back to high school physics to learn how this happens. Light exists in nature as a wave and is characterized by its wavelength. We are familiar with ultraviolet (UV) light, as it is feared and avoided at the urging of our dermatologists. Next is the visible spectrum of light, once thought
