On average, Spaniards spend 11 hours a day in front of a screen . 167 days, almost half of the year with eyes focused on mobiles, tablets, computers, e-books or televisions. These and other data, such as that 80% of Spaniards look at a device with a screen before going to bed and just getting up , perfectly reflect the reality in which today’s digital society lives. These circumstances have led to the popularization of terms such as Air Pollution or Light Pollution . To raise awareness about its prevention, Multiópticas launches the Screen Pollution social campaign.
With the data obtained through a study carried out by ASP and in collaboration with the Empantallados portal and the Professor in Ophthalmology at the University of Valencia Manuel Díaz Llopis , Multiópticas seeks to use its position as a leading company in the optical sector to commit to health visual of the population. The Screen Pollution project consists of three phases or proposals: an initial report in which screen usage habits are collected, a list of tips to prevent the negative consequences of excessive exposure for eyesight, and Screen Pollution workshops. at the national level to educate children and adolescents in responsible practices.
Prevention and good habits for visual health
According to the ASP study, 94% of Spaniards consider that the time they spend in front of a screen is worrying and three out of four assume that this exposure could cause them vision problems. This prolonged exposure usually leads to the appearance of accommodative asthenopia that manifests itself through stinging and redness of the eyes or headache. In addition, the abusive use of screens can cause myopia, insomnia and lack of concentration .
For adults, these effects can be slowed or reduced through simple habits such as using screens in well-lit environments and at an appropriate distance, voluntarily blinking frequently, taking short breaks, or using eye lubricants such as artificial tears. Another solution developed by Multiópticas is iBeslayt Technology, an antireflection treatment may be incorporated into the lens, which prevents fatigue and visual stress due to the abuse that perform screens in our day to day, time reduces glare and improves contrast.
‘Screen Pollution’ in the youngest
The case of children and adolescents (under 18 years of age) must be considered differently from adults because both their habits and their effects are different from those of adults .
One in three children begins to use devices with a screen at 3 years of age and the average age with which they fully operate these devices is 5. The average time a child spends in front of a screen is 3 hours a day and this figure grows when it comes to people between 12 and 17 years old. Following this trend and the increasingly early use of these technologies, it is estimated that in the coming years between 80% and 90% of the child population will be affected by visual problems such as myopia and will need visual correction. The World Health Organization has published guidelines and proposals that seek to improve this situation: avoid exposure to screens until 18 months of age, reduce consumption to 1 hour a day up to 3 years, encourage other types of recreational activities and seek a weekly exposure of 15 hours to natural light . From Empantallados great importance is given to the role that parents play in this regard, having to educate their children through healthy behaviors and setting an example themselves.
Faced with this situation, Multiópticas and the Screen Pollution campaign serve as a wake-up call and a commitment to the eye health of society .
