Overexposure to Screens Causes Visual Discomfort for Half of Alicante Residents

Overexposure to screens in daily life has turned them into a window to the world for many. However, this easy access to the vast material provided by the internet comes at a cost, negatively impacting our visual health. More than half of Alicante residents admit to experiencing eye discomfort due to screen overexposure. This is evidenced by "compelling" figures, with 27.7% of the population spending more than eight hours in front of a screen, and 34% between four and eight hours.

These are the main conclusions of the 2025 Visual Health Barometer of the Valencian Community, prepared by the College of Opticians-Optometrists of the Valencian Community (COOCV), in collaboration with the Society of Optometry and Contactology of the Valencian Community (SOCCV). The study also reveals that 66.1% believe their work environment harms their vision, and 63.5% say they have not received specific recommendations to protect it.

"The massive use of screens has become normalized, but their effects on visual health are being overlooked," says COOCV President Andrés Gené Sampedro. These effects are related to the so-called Digital Visual Syndrome, a condition associated with visual fatigue, encompassing symptoms such as eye itching, blurred vision, headaches, and neck and back tension. Experts say that experiencing two or more of these discomforts may indicate this syndrome.

To mitigate these effects, specialists recommend applying the "20-20-far" rule: every 20 minutes in front of a screen, look far away for at least 20 seconds. Additionally, longer breaks every two hours and maintaining a frequency of 20 blinks per minute are advised to prevent dry eyes.

The increase in the use of electronic devices at an early age is particularly concerning for vision professionals. The lack of outdoor activities and prolonged exposure to short distances in front of screens affects the visual system development of children and adolescents, during a crucial stage of their growth and development.

In this situation, the professional body emphasizes that it is "more necessary than ever" for children and adolescents to undergo a comprehensive visual analysis, allowing the optician-optometrist to check visual acuity in both eyes, determine if any refractive error compensation is needed, and assess the proper functioning of the accommodative, vergence, and ocular movement systems, fundamental aspects that can affect school performance.

To make healthy use of electronic screens at any stage of life, it is essential to adopt a series of good visual habits: regular breaks are recommended, such as every 20 minutes, looking at a distant point for 20 seconds, or resting for 10 minutes every 40 minutes of continuous use, especially for children and adolescents.

It is also important to maintain a minimum distance between the eyes and the screen of 40 to 60 centimetres, and ensure it is at eye level. The environment should also be suitable: the room should be well-ventilated, with natural lighting whenever possible, avoiding reflections, shadows, or intense backlighting.

The furniture should facilitate an ergonomic posture, with a table preferably tilted between 20 and 30 degrees and a chair that allows the back to remain straight and feet flat on the floor. Additionally, adjusting the brightness, contrast, and text size on devices, using filters if necessary, and blinking frequently to maintain eye hydration are advised.

Meanwhile, Rafael Pérez Cambrodí, president of the SOCCV, has indicated that the 2025 Barometer data reflects a "worrying trend, but also an opportunity: to educate the population on the healthy use of technology."

"As optometrists, we not only correct visual problems; we also have the responsibility to prevent them through training, guidance, and personalized attention tailored to daily visual needs," he stated.