A concussion is a surprisingly common occurrence, with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealing that around three million visits to the emergency room each and every year are as a result of concussion.

The violent movement of the brain caused by the blow to the head has many possible symptoms, but one of the most serious is in the visual system. Concussion-related vision problems are particularly problematic because they can often appear even when medical scans produce normal results. Common symptoms include dizziness, eye coordination issues, and blurred vision, with each grouped under the collective term "post-trauma vision syndrome".

These problems are often compounded by our modern lifestyles, and particularly our heavy dependence on digital devices, such as computers and smartphones, as a concussion can make it particularly difficult to focus on such objects. It’s a problem that has been compounded by a pandemic that has sent nearly all aspects of life online.

A Digital Life

COVID-19 has placed numerous strains on our health, whether due to the virus itself, the lack of mobility caused by lockdown measures, or the strain on our mental health caused by the various stresses associated with the pandemic. What has perhaps not been examined in great detail is the impact the pandemic has had on our eyes.

A study conducted by Lenstore earlier this year revealed that our screen time during the pandemic has risen by 76%. Not only have we increasingly been working and studying online, but various lockdown restrictions meant that our social lives have largely been conducted online, while the forced shutdown of most entertainment venues has also meant a significant increase in the time spent virtually entertaining ourselves.

This huge increase in screen time has a number of significant implications and is linked to difficulty concentrating, over-stimulation of our retina, fatigue, and trouble sleeping, stress, and, of course, eye strain and deterioration in eye health. Excessive use of digital devices has long been associated with eye problems, including blurred vision, with data from over 120,000 Chinese schoolchildren showing a rise in near-sightedness (myopia) of around 300% during the pandemic.

A Public Health Issue

Researchers from India have gone as far as to call it a public health issue, and optometrists Dr. Michele Andrews and Dr. Dorothy L. Hitchmoth offer some tips to prevent eye strain.

It’s a problem that should perhaps not surprise us. After all, researchers from the UK’s Aston University show that around 65% of people who use computers or other digital devices throughout the day suffer from what they refer to as “digital eye strain”. While the survey relies on self-reporting from participants rather than objective measures, it does nonetheless highlight the wide range of problems that prolonged screen time can present, including blurred vision, postural problems, and dry eyes.

These problems emerge in large part because when we look at a digital screen our eyes are working in much the same way they do when reading a book. The problem is that during the pandemic, we’ve been doing this far more than we ordinarily would, which exacerbates many of the problems we may already have had.

Dangerous Habits

For instance, for our eyes to work effectively, it’s vital that the vision in both eyes is clear. The images then captured by each eye are combined to provide us with effective vision. This only occurs when our eyes are free from optical defects, and any defects that are present must be corrected by glasses. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen, as improper assessments result in glasses and contact lenses that fail to make the proper corrections. One study found that around half of all glasses ordered online were incorrect.

When we read, our eyes also converge more than they would ordinarily do. This is a perfectly natural process, but not all of us have eyes that converge effectively. It’s estimated that around 20% of people suffer problems in this area, which makes it harder for them to maintain functional reading vision at around 35 centimeters. When we read on a screen, we often do so from just 18 centimeters, which makes the visual system work that much harder than it ordinarily would.

For our eyes to function effectively, they also need to have the right level of moisture. Tears are vital to protect and nourish the eye, but when we view a screen, it results in our eyes drying out. Tears also provide functional value, as they ensure that the ocular surface of the eye is uniform, which results in better vision. They also provide a refractive surface, which also influences our vision, so anything that reduces the moisture in our eyes is a bad thing for their effectiveness.

This drying occurs in part because when we look at screens, we typically blink three times less than we ordinarily would. As a result, the tear film in our eye doesn’t renew itself and ends up evaporating instead, which results in the eye drying out. This can often lead to fluctuating vision as our eyes fluctuate between moist and dry periods.

CORRECTING THE DAMAGE

Usually, when we look at screens for long periods, we’ll consult an optometrist to have our sight tested, but this hasn’t always been straightforward during a pandemic that has limited our access to such vital facilities at a time when they’re so desperately needed. The optometrist would perform a range of tests to evaluate all aspects of our vision, before proposing various exercises to train our eye muscles or recommend corrective eyewear to overcome any deficiencies.

If a visit to an optometrist isn’t an option, however, there are various things you can do to help take better care of your eyes. For instance, various apps exist to remind you to blink. We can also remind ourselves to stay the correct distance from our device when we read while also ensuring that it's illuminated sufficiently. Ultimately, however, the best recourse is to reduce our screen time and get out from behind the screen. Our eyes will certainly thank us for it. Even better, get outside! Recent Danish research highlights time spent in nature can have numerous benefits for concussion sufferers, and especially those suffering from post-concussion syndrome. For more on that topic, check out our recent blog, Why Nature is so Important to our Mental Well-Being.