Do you remember being young and looking up to the older kids? Well, now the older kids are us. We are the role models for future generations, so it’s our job to set a good example – and phone usage is no exception!
Mobile phones became popular starting in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and though they have only been around for about 24 years, 60% of the worlds population owns a phone. Phones are cool gadgets with fast communication and loads of entertainment. Phones and all electronics have changed our world completely, including public spaces like libraries. Lauren Hilty, Resource Services Librarian Supervisor at Grayslake Public Library, said, “Just from observation, younger people who come to the library rarely sit and read here, but they will come and use our computers.” People are always using electronics nowadays, not thinking about any precautions to take when staring at them for long periods of time.
How does the eye work?
The image on the right of the page shows how the eye works. The pupil is the opening of your eye where light comes in. The lens takes the light rays and sends an image to the retina, who converts the image into electric rays. These electric rays are sent to the optic nerve in the back of your eye, then right to your brain.
How does this relate to my cell phone?
Every time you look at a screen for a long period of time, your lens doesn’t have time to relax which causes eye strain and fatigue; some symptoms are itchy, burning, dry eyes or blurred vision. Erick J, a senior optician at Grayslake Eyecare, said that eye strain and fatigue has “become a little bit more common with all the tablets and laptops now that the schools are incorporating in… now we are getting a little bit more [people] with the blue light filter on the glasses so it doesn’t fatigue the eyes as much.”
How to prevent eye strain and fatigue?
Erick J, a Senior Optician at Grayslake Eyecare, said that he “recommends taking a break almost every 20 minutes to just look away from the screen because some people get focused on it and look right in there and it causes their eyes to get tired.” Carlos Lopez, the computer technician at Grayslake Central’s IT department said, “The one thing I would say that’s helped me, ‘cause I stare at the screen all day, is blue light glasses when looking at a screen. Because it can cause eye strain. And being ergonomic as well, so sitting properly not slouching, having the laptop in an ergonomic position cause when you type with it in your lap in the long run it will hurt your back.” Starting to do these habits everyday can help influence younger generations as well, which can cause less eye strain and will help ourselves be as happy and healthy as possible in the future.
Erick at Grayslake Eyecare, said, “People fall asleep watching TV because it’s causing the eyes to get tired. You don’t see it at the movie theaters because the lights are not coming at you. It’s projected from the screen behind you to another screen in front of you. That’s why you don’t feel the fatigueness. When you are at home it’s coming from a box; the light is coming at you. When you turn on the lights it kinda dilutes the light; it’s not like a straight beam in the dark.”
