Does digital eye strain cause myopia?

Digital eye strain and myopia are two distinct, but related conditions with overlapping risk factors. The good news is that both of these conditions can be managed with similar strategies.

As parents, we're all familiar with the digital age and the need for our children to use devices for learning and entertainment. But with increased use of digital devices comes an increased risk of digital eye strain and myopia (nearsightedness). While the two conditions have some overlapping symptoms and management approaches, they are distinct.  And it's important to understand the differences between them. In this article, we'll explore the relationship between DES and myopia and what parents can do to reduce the risk of both.

What is Digital Eye Strain and How is It Different from Myopia?

Digital eye strain (DES), also known as computer vision syndrome (CVS), is a group of vision-related problems caused by the prolonged use of digital devices, such as computers, tablets, e-readers, and smartphones. Symptoms of digital eye strain can include eye fatigue, blurred vision, headache, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain.

DES is experienced when someone looks at a digital screen for too long, causing the eye muscles to become tired and weaker. The eye strain and fatigue can worsen over the course of the day, making it harder for the eyes to focus. 

Myopia, on the other hand, is a vision condition characterized by difficulty seeing distant objects clearly and a blurry appearance of faraway objects. In a myopic eye, light rays are focused in front of the retina rather than directly on it, which is caused by the abnormal elongation of the eyes. Symptoms of myopia can include blurred vision, headaches, eye strain, and squinting.

The Relationship Between Digital Eye Strain and Myopia

With the rise of digital technology, doctors and researchers have observed an increase in digital eye strain and myopia. This has led to the question: are digital eye strain and myopia related?

Research has suggested that an extended period of near-vision work, including prolonged use of digital devices and digital screens, can increase the risk of both digital eye strain and myopia. It is believed that the driver of myopia is prolonged near-vision work, rather than digital eye strain. 

Heredity also plays a role in myopia, as a child has a much greater chance of developing it if one or both of their parents are myopic. In contrast, digital eye strain is caused by eye muscle fatigue, and no clear relationship has been established between genetics and the causes of digital eye strain.

Spending time outdoors is an effective way of reducing both digital eye strain and the risk of developing myopia. Multiple studies have found that children who don't get enough outdoor exposure every day have a higher rate of myopia progression. And it was suggested that the worsening of myopia might be due to dopaminergic pathways related to daylight. On the other hand, the improvement of DES with outdoor time is driven by less time spent on digital devices. 

Overall, although there is a clear relationship between digital eye strain and myopia, researchers were unable to find a cause-and-effect relationship between the two. This indicates that it is unlikely that digital eye strain itself causes myopia. However, myopia progression may be driven by long periods of near-vision work and inadequate outdoor time, both of which are also risk factors for digital eye strain.

Key Takeaways

Digital eye strain (DES) and myopia are two distinct conditions that have some similar symptoms and management approaches. While the extended use of digital devices can increase the risk of both, the primary cause of myopia is likely due to long periods of near-vision work, rather than digital eye strain itself. Parents can reduce the risk of both conditions by encouraging outdoor time and limiting the use of digital devices.

So, send your kid outdoors to play and kill two birds with one stone.

Want to stay connected on the newest happening? Join me

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/myopia/ 

Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/clearsightcorner/