There's no single magic number, but aiming for less than 2 hours of daily leisure screen time is recommended to protect your eye health.
Protecting Your Eyes from Mobile Device Strain
Excessive mobile phone use can contribute to digital eye strain and dry eye. To minimize these risks, it's crucial to manage your screen time effectively. While there's no universally agreed-upon "safe" limit, limiting leisure screen time to under two hours daily is a helpful guideline.
Strategies for Reducing Eye Strain:
- Regular Breaks: Take frequent breaks from your mobile device. The 20-20-20 rule is helpful: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Blink Often: Consciously blink more frequently to keep your eyes lubricated.
- Proper Lighting: Use good lighting to reduce eye strain. Avoid using your phone in very dark environments.
- Optimal Distance: Hold your phone at a comfortable distance to avoid straining your eyes.
The reference material suggests that when engaging in leisure activities, limiting screen time to less than 2 hours per day can help reduce the risk of developing dry eye and digital eye strain. This recommendation focuses on leisure time, not work or study, where screen time management strategies may differ. Remember that individual needs may vary. If you experience persistent eye discomfort, consult an eye care professional.
