Many of us have unhealthy habits. Perhaps the most prominent of these is the use of mobile phones in the dark for long hours. Unaware of the harms to which we expose ourselves, The most important harm of this behavior is on the eye. Have you ever wondered, my dear, what happens to your eyes when using a mobile phone in the dark? Learn with us in this article about the harms of using the mobile phone at night. And how can we avoid these damages as much as possible.

Does mobile phone use in the dark affect vision?

• You may think, my dear, that the blue light emitted from a mobile or computer screen is harmless. But it’s actually very harmful. It can cause damage to the cells of the retina. Which will lead to a disease called macular degeneration, which is an eye disease that causes vision loss.
• Overexposure to this light can also lead to a toxic reaction that kills the photoreceptor cells in the retina.
• Here we note the presence of another molecule in the retina that usually acts as an antioxidant to prevent eye cells from dying. That is, it protects the eye and helps it do its work. But as they get older, their immune systems will struggle to keep eye cells healthy. As a result, constant access to blue light may speed up a person’s chances of developing macular degeneration.
• Although macular degeneration occurs in people over the age of 60, However, experts suspect that this may come too early. This is due to the increasing use of technologies that emit blue light, Like mobile and computer.
• Some scholars also asserted that: Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. “When they perish, they perish forever.” And this invites us, my dear, to think carefully about preserving the health of our eyes.

How does the mobile cause damage to the eye?

As we said before, my dear, The blue light that is emitted from the cell phone is what causes the damage. This is because blue light has a shorter wavelength than other lights. and thus carries a higher energy, And this extra energy (more intense in the dark) is why blue light can be harmful to your eyes.

Disadvantages of using mobile phones in the dark

Here we will talk about the direct harms of using mobile phones in the dark. The most common symptoms of prolonged cell phone use include:

• Eyestrain.
• Dry Eye.
• eye pain
• eye irritation
• Headache.
• blurry vision
• double vision

How to protect your eyes from the mobile screen?

We will give you, my dear, simple tips to apply daily to reduce the risk of damage to your eyes:

1. screen location

If you put your phone on your pillow while you’re lying in bed, It means your phone is too close! Instead, my dear, The screen should be at arm’s length, It is placed 20 degrees below your eye level.

2. screen contrast

The screen brightness should match the brightness of your surroundings. If your eyes get tired while browsing your phone, You can adjust the color and brightness settings to make it more comfortable for your eyes.

3. Reduce glare

Here you can wear medical glasses that contain blue light reflective lenses. This will reduce the amount of blue light reaching your eyes. Damage will be reduced.

4. The rule is 20-20-20

The 20-20-20 rule is a reminder to take breaks from your screen time. It states that for every 20 minutes of screen time, You should take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet (about 6 metres) away.

5. Minimize the use of smartphones and mobile devices in the dark as much as possible.

In conclusion, We wish you, dear, health and safety, Pay attention to daily habits that can be harmful and stressful to your body. Including using mobile phones in the dark for long periods, Protect yourself and your eyes as much as possible and follow preventive measures on a daily basis.

Written by: Marah Mohamad

Sources:

calgaryfamilyeyedoctors

uk.pcmag

dearkmedicalcenter