New York, March 1st – We often spend a long time in front of our computer, smartphone or tablet while we work. This overexposure puts great pressure on our eyes and can have widespread results. We sometimes forget that, but the eyes are muscles, exhausted by the incredible amounts of overwork, affecting our daily happiness.
To better understand the size of VSP Vision Care, an insurance company specializing in Vision Health, we worked with Workplace Intelligence to investigate 800-hour managers and 800 full-time employees in the US. investigation Workers have revealed that they spend an average of 97 hours a week in front of screens, including 34.2 hours on computers. This figure is slightly higher than the 96.1 hour recorded in 2024, but still represents a full 24 hours or more per week, or 210 days a year.
Prolonged exposure to screens combined with artificial lighting is one of the main causes of visual fatigue, and today we’re going to talk about “digital fatigue.” Surveys show that 68% of workers suffer from it. Of these, 17% experience this discomfort for 4-5 days a week, and 10% face it almost every day, that is, 6-7 days a week.
This eye strain appears in a variety of symptoms: dry and irritating eyes, blurred vision, headaches and sometimes lower back pain. Almost 63% of employees report suffering from at least one of these symptoms compared to 50% last year, an increase of 26%.
Additionally, the number of people wearing glasses and contact lenses is increasing. 73% of employees are currently wearing it compared to 67% last year. However, such lenses are also associated with an increase in problems. Contact lens wearers are 12 times more likely to suffer from dry eyes than regular eyesight people, but this problem affects glasses wearers twice as much.
Screen-related visual impairments are not limited to physical discomfort. It also affects mental health and quality of life. Over 56% of workers feel that their well-being is affected by the consequences of stress, anxiety and depression. In some cases, this fatigue even leads to a loss of independence from a travel and personal care perspective, thus increasing the risk of social isolation.
Lack of awareness within the company
When it comes to professional performance, six out of 10 employees say that digital fatigue reduces productivity and efficiency. About 50% have an impact on general well-being, preventing people from enjoying their leisure time after work and not becoming more irritated in the office. Even more surprising, 27% of employees are already off work due to this fatigue.
Despite these serious consequences, 45% of employees believe their employers don’t care about the effects of digital ice strain. However, 70% of workers recognize that they need to better manage their screen exposure, while 59% believe their company needs to provide more support.
Contrary to this perception, HR managers nevertheless recognize the problem. 87% of them recognize that employees working on screen suffer from digital fatigue, and 96% believe this will affect productivity. Additionally, 89% acknowledge that organizations should implement more initiatives to support their employees. However, to date, fewer than six of the 10 companies have implemented specific measures, such as promoting breaks and providing anti-glare filters on screens.
So how can you protect your eyes and relieve work-related eye strain? Experts recommend applying the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, you will rest for 20 seconds when you see an object at least 6 meters (20 feet) away. Other solutions, such as yoga for the eyes, are eye exercises that aim to strengthen the eye muscles and improve endurance.
Given the ubiquitous nature of screens in our professional lives, the tension in digital eyes has become a real public health issue. However, it is still underestimated by businesses. Workers need to adopt better habits to maintain their vision, but it is also essential that employers take concrete steps to limit the impact of this overexposure. Awareness, regular breaks, ergonomic adjustments, and the right solutions should be reflexive to ensure employee well-being and productivity in the long run. By integrating these good practices, everyone can better maintain their visual health without sacrificing their efficiency in the workplace. – ETX Studio
