Six out of ten Spaniards, according to some studies, have noticed eye discomfort after more than two months of confinement by coronavirus and abuse of the use of screens, a side effect of quarantine by COVID-19 that will cause an increase in myopia. , especially in children, experts say.

Speaking to Efe, Dr. Daniel Vilaplana, an academic at the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia and a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Catalonia, explained that what has occurred in confinement " basically is the exaggeration of the previous daily life of great use of new technologies ".

"Exposure of eyesight to screens has long had consequences, even if it was used correctly, but now there has been abuse in the quarantine, which has caused, among other things, eyestrain and blurred vision ," he explained.

The problem of 'gawking' before the screen, highlighted the also consulting surgeon of the Retina section of the Parc Salut Mar, "is that we stop blinking, the tear evaporates and there is a feeling of sand in the eyes, " he points out. .

If it is essential to spend hours in front of the computer for work, the ophthalmologist recommends that the screen of the same " is always a little below our gaze . This way the eyelid is less open and the dry eye syndrome will not be so pronounced."

Dr. Vilaplana has also referred to the possible increase in myopia, especially in children and young people, which "would make a visit to the eye doctor" convenient in the de-escalation.

Regarding the direct affectation in myopia due to the use of screens, the prestigious ophthalmologist has pointed out that in the eastern world, precisely due to new technologies, more affectation occurs .

Vilaplana referred to the conclusions that the Japanese ophthalmologist Kyoto Ono Matsui presented in Barcelona last year on the effects on the vision of screen abuse from an early age.

"Now would be the time with the de-escalation to spread the use of new technologies and look for alternatives to relax the eyes. This summer we will sing and tell stories around the fire, for example," he said.

On the other hand, Vilaplana has predicted that the use of optical crystals that reduce the effects of blue light, that damage vision and affect sleep, among other effects, will increase, as indicated by studies such as that of Dr. Natalia Vila Grané, PhD at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

14 hours a day looking at screens

According to the study of the Empantallados y Multiópticas platform "Screen Pollution: Screens and confinement", 60% of Spaniards claim to have noticed some eye discomfort during confinement due to the excessive use of screens.

Specifically, the main discomforts that Spaniards have noticed from the use of screens are headache (31%), followed by itchy eyes ( 25%), dry eyes (22%), difficulty focusing (20%), redness (17%) or worsening of vision (16%).

More than 86% of Spaniards claim to make greater use of devices with screens since they are confined. Specifically, they now spend 14 hours a day looking at screens , which represents an increase of 30% daily compared to the same period of the previous year.

In particular, this increase has been produced mainly by the increased use of the telephone (1.35 hours more a day), television (1.31 hours more a day) and the computer (1.17 hours more a day). .

On the other hand, the consumption of screens of the smallest has also increased especially in the confinement. According to the study, parents with children under the age of 18 affirm that their children have gone from an average of 2.79 hours a day to 4.18 hours, that is, 1.39 hours a day more.

In addition, it is observed that the percentage of children or young people who spend 5 or more hours a day exposed to a screen has gone from 16.24 to 37.27%, compared to the same period last year.

In this sense, María José Abad, head of content for Empantallados.com, has indicated that it is especially important in this period of confinement that, "with regard to minors, there are rules for the use of screens at home, with a schedule, and a balance between screen and screenless entertainment. "

In accordance with the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Coronavirus
  • Covid 19

TaxationChurches appeal to the "fiscal patriotism" of the wealthy to raise taxes: "They are willing to exercise their solidarity"

Covid-19The Government is inclined not to let Madrid pass to Phase 1 of the de-escalation

Covid-19 Alert for the burning of tons of waste with coronavirus in Catalonia

Close links of interest

  • News
  • Translator
  • Programming
  • Calendar
  • Horoscope
  • Classification
  • League calendar
  • Films
  • Schools
  • Masters
  • Cut notes
  • Rich
  • Universities
  • Themes
  • Maritime - Vitória Setúbal
  • Benfica - Tondela
  • Vitória Guimarães - Sporting CP