With the enhanced community quarantine currently in full effect and the COVID-19 pandemic continually posing a threat to lives not only here in the Philippines but all over the world, many find themselves holed up at home trying to make the most of the current situation. Regardless of whether you find yourself falling into the virtual black holes that are Netflix and Tiktok or continue to do work within the confines of your home, if you’re privileged enough to even have the option to stay home, then there’s one other health issue you might want to pay attention to while you’re at it. With all the time you’re spending in front of your mobile phone, computer, or TV screen, it’s highly likely your eyes are not getting the care they need.
Even with the common knowledge that digital devices can impair vision, most people tend to ignore this fact and continue to overexpose their eyes to the harmful blue light that these devices emit. The health issues this can bring about include headaches, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain, sleep disorders, dry eyes, and of course, the inevitable eye strain. And while there are quick fixes such as the 20-20-20 rule (that is, looking at something about 20 feet away from you for about 20 seconds for every 20 minutes of screen time) or adjusting your devices’ display settings, actual protection is still better than attempts at prevention. Because while our eyes have lutein, a naturally-occurring antioxidant that protects the eyes from harmful blue light, it depletes as we age and, just like any other body part, requires proper care for it to be able to keep serving its purpose.
This is where eyewear comes in. With our day-to-day activities becoming more and more contingent on technology and devices, and our eyes, therefore, becoming more and more susceptible to damage, it’s important to invest in lenses that work extra hard to protect them. Think long term and opt for lenses that both filter out blue light and protect the lutein in your eyes. This way, you not only prevent eye strain, body pain, or headaches, but you also get to safeguard your eyes from more permanent damage such as cataract, macular degeneration (i.e. the leading cause of severe, permanent loss of vision), or blindness. And while all of this may seem alarming, the good news is that this particular eye care solution is available exclusively at Vision Express, the country’s premier optical store.
As we all unite to fight the pandemic, take care of who and what matters most— yourself included. And once you get the chance, get yourself blue light-filtering, lutein- protecting lenses that will help you do exactly that. For now, remember to stay vigilant, stay home, and above all, stay safe.
For more details and eye care tips, check out visionexpress.ph and follow @VisionExpressPH on Facebook and Instagram.