Ocular health is an important, but sometimes neglected, part of our overall health.
Americans are spending more than five hours daily on their phones, according to a 2025 report from Harmony Healthcare IT. While many worry about mental health impacts, eye specialists are raising alarms over the physical toll of prolonged screen use. Nearly seven in 10 Americans reported phone-related health issues last year, with eye strain the most common.
“Being in the digital age, we’re increasingly surrounded by screens,” ophthalmologist Dr. Bryan M. Kim told Newsweek. He noted that myopia rates have surged to more than 40 percent of the U.S. population, up from 25 percent five decades ago.
Experts warn that myopia significantly raises risks of retinal detachment, glaucoma and early cataracts. “There are a lot of ways that increased use of screens impact ocular health,” Kim said.
Doctors advise simple protective measures: blinking more often, taking breaks every 20 minutes, eating leafy vegetables and omega-3s, using warm compresses, and wearing UV-protective sunglasses