Ophthalmologist Dionisio Charran has warned that spending long hours in front of screens causes visual fatigue, though it does not necessarily inflict permanent eye damage.
Speaking on the impact of mobile phones, computers, and tablets on vision, Dr Charran explained that extended device use can significantly affect comfort and overall quality of life.
According to the specialist, the discomfort experienced after hours of screen exposure corresponds to a condition known medically as asthenopia, commonly referred to as eye strain or visual fatigue. Symptoms identified by Dr Charran include heaviness or burning in the eyes, visual exhaustion, pain located behind the eyeball, and the sensation of having a foreign body inside the eye.
Asthenopia is a recognized ophthalmic condition that occurs when the internal and external muscles of the eye become fatigued from continuous focus. While uncomfortable, the condition is temporary and subsides when the visual system is given adequate rest.
Blue Light and Circadian Rhythms
Dr Charran addressed widespread concerns regarding blue light emitted by digital displays, clarifying that blue light itself should not be blamed as the primary driver of ocular damage.
The ophthalmologist explained that blue light plays an important functional role in the human body, particularly in regulating the circadian rhythm, which governs internal sleep cycles.
During daytime hours, exposure to blue light helps keep levels of melatonin low, maintaining alertness. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that induces sleep, and its levels naturally begin to rise as evening approaches to prepare the body for rest.
Rather than eliminating blue light entirely, Dr Charran advised adapting room lighting to match specific daily activities. He recommended using white lighting for tasks that demand concentration and switching to yellow or warm light during periods of rest.
Preventing Visual Fatigue
To reduce visual fatigue, Dr Charran recommended establishing simple daily habits, including taking regular eye breaks every 20 to 30 minutes while using electronic devices.
He also suggested adjusting the angle of display screens, noting that tilting a screen slightly downward can prevent light from striking the eyes directly if fatigue sets in.
Additional techniques advised by the specialist include conscious frequent blinking, especially during intense concentration, and periodically shifting vision away from screens toward a distant point to relax the visual system.
Addressing blue light filtering lenses, Dr Charran noted that glasses with blue light filters are not necessarily required for all device users.
According to the ophthalmologist, such filter lenses are primarily beneficial for patients with specific retinal conditions, particularly those involving the macula, as well as individuals suffering from photophobia or extreme sensitivity to light.
In healthy eyes, protective pigments such as lutein and zeaxanthin gather in the macula, the central area of the retina responsible for sharp vision, to shield ocular tissue from blue light. In patients diagnosed with macular degeneration, these protective macular pigments are often diminished.
Dietary Care and Ocular Aging
Beyond managing screen time, Dr Charran emphasized that visual health is closely linked to daily nutrition, highlighting the importance of eating a varied diet rich in colorful foods.
The specialist explained that the vibrant natural colors found in fruits and vegetables correspond to essential organic compounds, such as carotenoids, which the human body uses to support and protect eye structures.
Carotenoids are plant-derived antioxidants that accumulate in ocular tissues, helping to neutralize oxidative stress caused by light exposure and aging. Incorporating a broad spectrum of colorful produce into daily meals provides the eyes with these protective nutrients.
Dr Charran also discussed cataracts, an eye condition directly associated with the natural aging process of the visual organ.
He explained that cataracts typically develop around age 55 or 60 as the crystalline lens, the eye's natural transparent focusing structure, gradually loses its transparency.
The crystalline lens is a flexible, clear structure located behind the pupil that changes shape to focus light onto the retina. As a person ages, additional layers accumulate within the lens, which can lead to progressive opacification that blocks light from reaching the back of the eye.
