Screens can connect us to long–distance loved ones, help us find answers to pressing questions, and allow us to work from anywhere there is a Wi–Fi connection. While we benefit in many ways from the screens in our lives, there is one major part of us that feels the weight and strain of all our scrolling, emailing, sharing, and posting: our eyes. A new Workplace Vision Health Report by VSP Vision Care and Workplace Intelligence is highlighting how workers believe screen time impacts their eyes.
Workers surveyed report getting as much as 96.1 hours, or the equivalent of four full days, of screen time each week. When added together, this equates to 208 days worth of screen time each year, or 57% of the entire year.
The report surveyed 800 full–time remote, hybrid, and on-site employees between the ages of 18 and 67. There was an even representation of Gen Z, millennial, Gen X , and baby boomer participants, and an equal number of men and women were surveyed, as well. The majority of respondents (69%) say they worked longer hours over the past year––including nights and weekends––and an alarming 43% report that their eye health is worsening as a result.
For younger workers, the numbers are higher: 82% of Gen Z are working longer, with 54% reporting worsened eye health. “ Excessive screen time can lead to digital eye strain, which can cause headaches, dry eyes, and blurred vision,” says VSP Vision Care President Kate Renwick–Espinosa. Dr.
Emily Schehlein, clini.
