If you’re like me then you spend an awful lot of time at your computer.  In fact, I spend so much time on mine that I’ve made a special harness for my laptop that attaches directly to my arm.  Not really.  But I do spend about 9 hours a day on it at work and then I check my email at night, do research on it in the evenings, read on it, social network, etc.  And the thing is, most people do the exact same thing.  But what is this doing to our eyes? Well, nearsightedness is up 66 percent since the 1970s, for one thing.

Researchers compared the eyesight information of more than 4,400 people tested in 1971 and 1972.  They also took eyesight data of those tested between 1999 and 2004.  The results were shocking.  A massive 66 percent increase in nearsightedness.  Although nearsightedness is poorly understood, it is clear that the increase in computer use, the increase in TV watching, texting, etc. are clearly the leading causes of this eye condition.

So what’s the solution? First of all, GET OUTSIDE MORE! Take 5 minute breaks at work and don’t just sit there surfing the net, GO OUTSIDE and look around.  In fact, for every 20 minutes you spend at your computer, you should be looking 20 feet into the distance for 20 seconds.  With just this small change, you could be saving yourself thousands of dollars in Eye Exams, glasses, etc.  So, get out there and smell the roses.

Nearsightedness