A Scottish optometry group will be urging patients to ‘keep their distance’ during National Eye Health Week next month.

Urquhart Opticians, an award-winning independent group with practices in Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Troon and Prestwick, will be highlighting the dangers posed by too much screen time on PCs, laptops, tablets and Smartphones.

To promote this message, the team at Urquhart’s have arranged a talk at their Kilmarnock practice on Tuesday, September 19 where they will be offering tips for screen safety and providing an opportunity to ‘Ask the Expert’.

Peter Telfer, Business Partner of the Kilmarnock-based opticians group, explained: “The first Smartphone was marketed in 2000, almost 20 years ago and so Urquhart Opticians will be focussing on smart screen time for National Eye Health Week.

“The impact of screens on our vision is something patients are increasingly asking us about, and whilst we know that there are correlations between prolonged screen time and eye fatigue, we are only just beginning to understand the potential long-term effects of having screens around us 24/7."

Glasgow Times:

(Photo: Pixabay)

Alistair Duff, Optometrist and Partner at Urquhart Opticians, added: “An estimated 80 per cent of adults have Smartphones or tablets, and a computer at home. We use them before, during and after work, and even through the night, putting further strain on the eyes.

"We are only just beginning to understand the effects of this explosion in screen time, so as optometrists we want to ensure our patients are aware of the latest guidance, simple tips such as the 20:20:20 rule, and of the latest advances in lenses designed to mitigate against such effects.”

Urquhart Opticians’ Top Tips for Healthy Screen Time

Keep your distance

Be mindful of keeping your screens at a reasonable distance from your face. It is recommended that computer screens should be 20-40 inches away, whilst handheld devices should be at a comfortable distance.

Glasgow Times:

(Photo: Pixabay)

Look away now

The muscles in your eyes need to be rested and the 20:20:20 rule is a good habit to get into. Set the timer on your phone to go off after 20mins. When the alarm rings, look away and focus on something around 20metres away for a count of 20 seconds. That will give your eye muscles a chance to relax and recover. Too much close work can worsen myopia, or short-sightedness.

Glasgow Times:

Be dim

Check the settings on your screen and set the brightness to a level you find comfortable. That can vary depending on time of day and time of year - you should dim the levels during winter months when we are exposed to even more artificial light.

In the dark

Staring at screens in a darkened room puts additional strain on your eyes. Plus, if reading whilst lying down, be careful not to have one eye obscured by the pillow or your arm. Differentials in light exposure between your eyes can cause confusion, disorientation and further strain.

Glasgow Times:

(Photo: Pixabay)

Varifocal vision

Varifocal lenses have been found to have a number of benefits for people working at computers. They can also have potential benefits to modern lifestyles by, for example, allowing wearers to see clearly the television and their handheld smartphone without having to remove or swap specs.

To find out more about National Eye Health Week, which runs from September 18-24, visit www.visionmatters.org.uk

Places for the ‘Keeping Your Distance’ event are limited and anyone interested should register by calling Urquhart Opticians Kilmarnock Practice on 01563 525059. The evening starts at 6pm and refreshments will be provided.