A New Look at Digital Lifestyles: Part 1

Digital devices are now part of our everyday lives, and with the advancements of digital technology over the past two decades, daily screentime is a given for most patients.^1,2 

Since viewing a computer or digital screen often makes the eyes work harder, routine screentime habits can lead to the development of vision-related symptoms.³ These can include irritation/burning eyes, dry eyes, eyestrain, headache, tired eyes, sensitivity to bright lights, and eye discomfort.⁴ Accommodation-related symptoms have also been reported and include blurred near or distance vision after computer use and difficulty refocusing from one distance to another.⁴

The COVID 19 pandemic only accelerated screentime use, as people turned to their digital devices more and more to stay connected at work, school, and with friends and family.⁵ 

But four years later, where does digital device use stand today? A new report from CooperVision takes a fresh look at current trends in digital device use and digital eye strain.⁶

One critical finding from the report: Screentime hasn’t slowed, but instead continues to rise in the U.S.,⁷ along with more individuals experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain.⁸

Here is a snapshot of some key insights from the report, “A New Look at Digital Eye Strain.”⁶

Trends Point to More Hours on Screens

The report’s results are based on survey responses from 750 adults, aged 18-44, who lived in the U.S. and required vision correction. All survey responders wore either contact lenses or glasses, a requirement for participation to ensure the individuals interacted with an eye care professional.

More than half of respondents spent, on average, six or more hours a day on digital devices.⁹ Further, one in four said they spent an average of nine hours or more a day looking at a screen.¹⁰

Smartphones were named the number one device on which people spent the most time, with 79% of those surveyed affirming they used their smartphone for at least three hours a day.¹¹ Of note, 62% said their smartphone usage greatly increased over the past two years.¹² In addition to their smartphones, those surveyed indicated they were also spending increased time on other digital devices.  TV was the second most popular digital device respondents used at 41%, followed by laptops at 39%.⁷

Digital Eye Strain Frequent and on the Rise

Not surprising, a majority said they experienced digital eye strain symptoms, and many at a frequent rate. Specifically, nearly 70% reported symptoms associated with digital eye strain,⁸ and nearly four in 10 said they experienced digital eye strain symptoms multiple times per week or more^.13

When asked to explain the cause of their eye tiredness, nearly 50% believed it was due to screen time.¹⁴

Soft Contact Lens Innovations to Help Ease Eye Tiredness and Dryness

CooperVision’s MyDay Energys® daily disposable and Biofinity Energys® monthly replacement contact lenses combine an innovative aspheric lens design and advanced material technology to help address eye tiredness and dryness associated with digital device use.¹⁵ The lenses feature DigitalBoost™ Technology, a single vision aspheric lens design unique to MyDay Energys® and Biofinity Energys® that delivers a +0.3D boost, which may help ease strain on eye muscles so the wearer can shift focus from on screen to off with less effort.*¹⁶

Final Thoughts

The report makes it clear: Digital device use, and correspondingly, digital eye strain, are on the rise. And whether your patients bring up digital eye strain during their eye exam, a strong opportunity presents itself for ECPs to educate patients on digital eye strain and help them find solutions. 

Access the full report here: https://coopervision.com/sites/coopervision.com/files/2024-02/digital-eye-strain-research-report.pdf, and discover more about MyDay Energys®  and Biofinity Energys® for your patients.

* Based on a statistically significant difference of the mean change in Accommodative Microfluctuations and when compared to Biofinity sphere after reading on an iPhone 5 for 20 minutes held at a distance of 25 cm.

1. Wolffsohn JS, Lingham G, Downie LE, et al. TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of the digital environment on the ocular surface. Ocul Surf. 2023 Apr;28:213-252. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.04.004.
2. Pandya A and Lodha P (2021) Social connectedness, excessive screen time during COVID-19 and mental health: A review of current evidence. Front. Hum. Dyn 3:684137. doi: 10.3389/fhumd.2021.684137.
3. Computer Vision Syndrome. American Optometric Association. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome?sso=y. Accessed Feb. 15, 2024.
4. Kaur K, Gurnani B, Nyak S, et al. Digital Eye Strain: A comprehensive review.Ophthalmol Ther.  2022 Oct; 11(5): 1655–1680.
5. Trott M, Driscoll R, Iraldo E, et al. Changes and correlates of screen time in adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2022 Jun:48:101452.
6. CooperVision (February 2024). “A New Look at Digital Eye Strain”. Report of online survey results (2023): N=750, Vision corrected patients. US Adults Ages 18-44 who wear corrective spectacles and/or contact lenses.
7. CVI data on file 2023. US online survey: N=750, Vision corrected patients. US Adults Ages 18-44 who wear corrective spectacles and/or contact lenses. 62% increased smart phone screen time, 41% increased TV screen time, 39% increased laptop screen time for both work and personal use.
8. CVI data on file 2023. US online survey: N=750, Vision corrected patients. US Adults Ages 18-44 who wear corrective spectacles and/or contact lenses. 31% experience at least once a week or less, 32% experience a few days a week and 6% experience every day.
9. CVI data on file 2023. US online survey: N=750, Vision corrected patients. US Adults Ages 18-44 who wear corrective spectacles and/or contact lenses. 52% say the spend 6 hours or more.
10. CVI data on file 2023. US online survey: N=750, Vision corrected patients. US Adults Ages 18-44 who wear corrective spectacles and/or contact lenses. 25% say they send 9 hours or more.
11. CVI data on file 2023. US online survey: n=750, Vision corrected patients. US Adults Ages 18-44 who wear corrective spectacles and/or contact lenses.
12. CVI data on file 2023. US online survey: n=738, Vision corrected patients. US Adults Ages 18-44 who wear corrective spectacles and/or contact lenses and use a smartphone. 62% greatly increased/increased for both work and personal use.
13. CVI data on file 2023. US online survey: N=750, Vision corrected patients US Adults Ages 18-44 who wear corrective spectacles and/or contact lenses. 32% experience digital eye strain at least a few times a week. 6% experience digital eye strain every day.
14. CVI data on file 2023. US online survey: n=586, Vision corrected patients US Adults Ages 18-44 who wear corrective spectacles and/or contact lenses and experience eye tiredness. 48% responded that excessive screen time is what causes their eye tiredness.
15. CVI data on file 2024.
16. Kajita M et al. Changes in accommodative micro-fluctuations after wearing contact lenses of different optical designs. Cont Lens Ant Eye. 2020 Oct;43(5):493-496. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2020.03.003.