How to recognise and treat the symptoms of digital eye strain

Digital electronic devices come in a multitude of formats, with screen shapes and sizes ranging from giant desktop monitors to small smartphones and now even tiny smartphone watches. These have multiplied the potential stresses on the ocular system and patients report an increasing range of associated symptoms, which can collectively be referred to as digital eye strain (DES).1

A recent survey found that UK adults spend an average of eight hours and 41 minutes a day on media devices2 with UK households now owning 7.4 internet devices.3 Unsurprisingly, 16-24 year-olds spend the most time on media and communications with over 14 hours of media and communications activity crammed into over nine hours each day by multi-tasking, using different media and devices at the same time.2