a magnifying glass enlarges a man's eyes

A User's Guide to Your Eyes

What’s all that screentime doing to your vision? Read on for the eye-opening facts.

April 2021

Joey Bartolomeo

You know the scene: You’re watching a movie with your nose inches from your phone when one of your parents calls out, “You’re going to ruin your eyes!” You give yours a roll, then go back to your movie. But later your eyes are itchy and dry. Plus, you have a wicked headache. Could it be that annoying parental voice was . . . right?

While your mom or dad was probably being a bit dramatic, they are right to worry about the effect of all that screentime on your eyes. In fact, ophthalmologists (doctors who specialize in eye care) are noticing a rise in teen patients complaining of dry eyes, blurry vision, and headaches. And the problems may go beyond temporary discomfort: While experts say there’s not enough evidence yet to link irreversible eye damage with excessive screentime, studies have shown that too much “near work” (focusing on things near your face, like your phone) can lead to nearsightedness (the inability to clearly see things in the distance).

Unfortunately, thanks to Covid-19-related remote learning and social distancing, we’re doing more near work than ever these days. But don’t panic! Just turn the page to take a peek at the surprising answers to your most urgent questions about keeping your eyes clear and your vision sharp.

Q: Is it really bad for my eyes to watch TV or look at my phone in the dark?

A: Yes. Looking at a bright screen in the dark can cause your pupils to open wide to let in more light, and this puts strain on your retinas—the nerve cells at the back of your eyes that sense light and send signals to your brain. Looking at your phone or watching TV for a long time in a dark room won’t permanently damage your vision, but it can cause headaches and trouble focusing, explains ophthalmologist Stephanie Marioneaux.

Boost your eye-q: Try to have at least some light in the room when you look at a screen, ideally coming from behind you.

Do Glasses Make You Look Smarter?

The answer is yes! According to several studies, people perceive glasses-wearers as not just smart, but also dependable, successful, and honest. This may explain why celebs like Justin Bieber and Gigi Hadid often sport stylish specs on the red carpet.

Q: Both my parents wear glasses. That means I’ll need them too, right?

A: Maybe. Genetics definitely plays a role in your eyesight: For example, if both your parents are nearsighted, there’s a 40 percent chance you will be too. But even if your parents don’t wear glasses, you still might need them. “Becoming nearsighted or farsighted [meaning you easily see things far away but not up close] involves a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors,” says ophthalmologist Natario Couser. Studies suggest that a gene for nearsightedness can be triggered if you exclusively look at objects that are close to you, because your brain starts to think you don’t need to see things in the distance.

Boost your eye-q: One study found that the more time kids spent outside, the less likely they were to be nearsighted, so spend your next screen break walking around the block.

Q: My eyes were itchy and my friend offered me some drops. Is it safe to share?

A: NO. It’s never a good idea to share anything that goes on or in your eyes. That includes eye drops, eye makeup applicators, and, obviously, contact lenses. Sharing can lead to infections like conjunctivitis (aka pink eye), a painful and extremely contagious condition. In fact, the virus that causes pink eye can live on surfaces for up to a month, so even your own fingers can give you an eye infection.

Boost your eye-q: Never share eye makeup or drops, and always wash your hands with soap and water before putting in or removing contacts.

Weird But True!

Too Many Fries Made One Teen Go Blind

In a bizarre but true case, a 17-year-old boy in the U.K. lost his sight after years of eating nothing but French fries, potato chips, white bread, and processed ham (blech!). Doctors diagnosed the boy with something called nutritional optical neuropathy. A severe lack of vitamins and minerals in his diet had permanently damaged his optic nerve, leaving him blind. If caught early enough, nutritional optical neuropathy can be reversed, but the best advice is to avoid it in the first place by eating many different kinds of food. It’s a myth that eating carrots will give you supercharged vision, but a varied diet including colorful fruits and veggies, fish, and nuts will provide nutrients that are essential to your eyes’ ability to see clearly.

Q: I’ve been seeing ads on social media for glasses that block the blue light from screens. Should I get a pair?

A: NO. It’s true that blue light—a type of light that comes from the sun, as well as computer screens and LED lightbulbs—can damage eyes, but you actually get exposed to much more blue light from the sun than from screens, says Dr. Couser. Despite what the ads for the light-blocking glasses claim, no studies have shown that the amount of blue light exposure you get from screens is harmful.

Boost your eye-q: Instead of blue light blockers, invest in a good pair of shades. Check the label to be sure they block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.

Easy on the Eyes

Follow these tips to put less stress on your eyes and keep your vision sharp:

Blink it up. Blinking every 4 seconds, or 15 times a minute, is your goal. You do this naturally most of the time, but only half as often when you’re looking at screens!

Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at least 20 feet away from your screen for 20 seconds. Need help remembering? Try setting a timer on your phone, taking a break between levels of your video game, or adding bookmarks to your ebook.

Make space. Position your computer at eye level, 18 to 24 inches from your face. If you’re using a phone or tablet, try to hold it an arm’s length away.