IT FEELS like yesterday when everyone can go to work, attend school, and do everyday things without being confined in a room where all they had are devices to help ease the boredom.
All that changed when the pandemic started as people had to stay home during lockdowns and learn how to adapt to the new way of living life – through the use of technology. In the Philippines, many people have been using technology more frequently in their daily lives for school, work, and leisure activities during the lockdown.
According to Statista, Filipino internet users spend an average of 10 hours and 56 minutes surfing the internet with their digital devices, which consists of laptops, television, and smartphones. This is more than the recommended screen time of two hours per day.
Eyestrain
The use of technology can heavily affect a person's eyes as excessive hours in front of digital screens can cause digital eyestrain and computer vision syndrome, bringing discomfort to the eyes.
An eyestrain is a group of symptoms that people experience after using their digital devices for an extended amount of time, more than the recommended screen time. Although it may not lead to any severe eye damage, it can still be uncomfortable for some and can reduce work productivity and school performance.
The average amount of time Filipinos spend on the internet can also pose underlying problems for those who have certain eye conditions like myopia and astigmatism, among others.
Since many tasks people do now require digital devices, most likely eyestrain can happen. Activities like working remotely, attending online classes, and spending time socializing on the internet, which all involve using digital devices, can lead to eyestrain if proper eye management is not put in place.