Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on eye health
Add “eyes” to the long list of things that 2020-2021 took a toll on.
Digital Eye Strain is on the rise – with possible long-term consequences.
Even setting aside the eye-related symptoms of Covid-19, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on our eyes – both from a health standpoint and even a cosmetic standpoint. I’ve never had so many inquiries from healthy young people with new optical problems (chronic strain, redness, blurriness, dryness, discomfort).
A significant majority of these issues stem from a fairly benign cause – “screen fatigue.”
Because of quarantine, people are spending two or more hours extra looking at screens than they were prior to the pandemic (on top of the seven hours the average American already spends per day on the computer).
Endless virtual meetings, online learning, online entertainment, Virtual Reality gaming, etc. – it all causes “digital eye strain.” This problem won’t go away with Covid-19 vaccination either, as more and more businesses and institutions shift to permanent remote arrangements. While the symptoms of digital eye strain / computer vision syndrome are typically treatable with an office visit, there is some worrying evidence (published by the American Journal of Ophthalmology right here) that it could result in myopia and other long-term problems.
What is Digital Eye Strain?
Digital Eye Strain describes a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader and cell phone use. Many individuals experience eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing digital screens for extended periods. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of digital screen use.
Here’s one tip for 2022: follow the 20/20/20 rule to reduce digital eye strain resulting from all those extra Zoom calls and online classes. Every 20 minutes, give your eyes a break by stepping 20+ feet away from your screen for 20+ seconds.
Demand for Laser Vision Correction is Booming
Second, demand for laser vision correction has never been higher – because of the pandemic, not in spite of it. I’ve had a 30% Year-over-Year rise in ASA Laser Eye Surgeries at my practice, which is in line with national averages for LASIK.
There are lot of reasons for this.
People with contacts are uniquely affected by digital eye strain. In many cases, younger people with contacts have been considering LASIK and other forms of laser eye surgery for a while and this has been the last straw.
On the other hand, people with eyeglasses often complain about the nagging “fogging effect” that occurs when wearing a mask. Some don’t like to wear glasses for client calls on Zoom.
Above all though, it goes back to self-improvement and taking back control in a year that has taken a toll on everyone. Investing in yourself – in an operation that will have potentially have life-changing, life-long benefits – is a refreshing thought to a lot of people.
Lastly, I don’t want to diminish the economic effects of the pandemic at all. But for people who were unaffected, it helps that they have extra savings since they were unable to travel this year. And it also helps that they are able to recover at home without the pressure of going into the office.
If you live in the New York City area and are experiencing digital eye strain or are researching LASIK / laser eye surgery, reach out to me with your questions and we’ll schedule a safe face-to-face consultation.
I was happy to talk to my friends at Glossier about this very issue, check it out: https://intothegloss.com/2021/01/tips-to-prevent-computer-eye-strain/