Doctors recommending people learn the „20-20-20“ rule to protect their sight, suffering from the increased screen time due to the Covid19 measures. The rule postulates looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes you look at a screen.

A research suggests that Out of 2,000 people, half used screens more since Covid struck and a third (38%) of those believed their eyesight had worsened. At the same time one in five were less likely to get an eye test now than before the pandemic, for fear of catching or spreading the virus. Respondents reported difficulty reading, as well as headaches and migraines and poorer night vision.

The specialists underline that more than half of all cases of sight loss are avoidable through early detection and prevention methods. Regular eye tests can often detect symptomless sight-threatening conditions.

The researches remind that even simple screen breaks can help to prevent eye strain. Just under a quarter of people noticed their vision deteriorate during the first lockdown. The good news is that this is unlikely to cause any permanent harm to your vision. However, it is very important that if you feel your vision has deteriorated or if you are experiencing any problems with your eyes, such as them becoming red or painful, you contact your ophthalmologist.

Veronika Kertikova-Tapcheva

From materials from https://www.bbc.com