No, cell phones don't directly cause new floaters, which are formed by age-related changes in the eye's vitreous, but prolonged screen time and digital eye strain can make existing floaters much more noticeable, especially against bright screens, and some research suggests blue light might accelerate vitreous degeneration, but more studies are needed.
Do you spend many hours on a computer or phone without enough visual breaks? Prolonged screentime can stress the eyes through the effects of bright or blue light, but it will not produce more eye floaters. However, floaters may be more noticeable when staring at a bright screen or background.
Most eye floaters are caused by age-related changes that occur as the jelly-like substance (vitreous) inside your eyes liquifies and contracts. Scattered clumps of collagen fibers form within the vitreous and can cast tiny shadows on your retina.
Extended periods of mobile phone usage can lead to digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome. Symptoms include eye fatigue, dryness, blurred vision, headaches, and neck or shoulder pain.
Many people wonder if hours spent on phones and computers can create floaters. Extended screen time doesn't cause floaters, but digital eye strain can make you more aware of floaters that you already have. You may also notice them more against a bright, uniform background like a screen.
Myth #3: Floaters Are Always Normal
These conditions can be severe vision emergencies requiring immediate medical treatment. Additionally, floaters may be mistaken for other conditions, like high blood pressure, stroke, or diabetes.
While reducing screen time can certainly help improve your eye health, it's also crucial to schedule regular eye exams with an optometrist. These exams can help identify any underlying vision problems or conditions that may be exacerbated by excessive screen use.
10 Harmful Effects of Mobile Phones
According to the American Optometric Association, individuals who spend two or more continuous hours at a computer or using a digital screen device every day are at the greatest risk of experiencing digital eye strain.
Eye floaters are usually harmless. In rare cases, they are caused by a serious condition. If this serious condition is not treated, you may have some vision loss.
Are there different types of floaters?
Lots of people, particularly older people, get floaters and flashes. They're usually caused by a harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the gel inside your eyes changes. Sometimes they can be caused by retinal detachment. This is serious and can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated.
If you already have eye floaters, then smoking can worsen them. If you don't already have them, then this habit is a likely cause. Similarly, excessive drinking of alcohol can cause premature aging to the vitreous humour, which can trigger the development of floaters.
Do eye drops for floaters help? Eye drops that dilate the pupil, called atropine eye drops, may help make you notice floaters less. But they can cause blurry vision. You may see alternative medicine eye drops on the market for treating eye floaters, but there's no evidence that they work.
10 Harmful Effects of Mobile Phones
Considering the lab tests done by German authorities, the phone with the highest levels of radiation at SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) happens to be Mi A1 with 1.75 W/Kg. Following Xiaomi is OnePlus 5T that has a SAR value of 1.68 W/Kg.
Tips to Relieve and Reverse Digital Eye Strain
Here are some expert-approved strategies our team at Eye Pros in Logan often recommends: Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. It's a simple but powerful way to reset your focus.
Being exposed to blue light emitted from the screens for such a long time can lead to undesirable symptoms, including dry eyes and headaches. Wearing eye protection glasses while you are working is ideal to protect your eyes from blue light exposure and to prevent the associated symptoms.
Experts say adults should limit screen time outside of work to less than two hours per day. Any time beyond that which you would typically spend on screens should instead be spent participating in physical activity.
Inflammation Inside the Eye (Uveitis, Infection)
White cells and protein debris mimic floaters and are often joined by pain, redness or light sensitivity.
Most eye floaters don't require treatment. However, any medical condition that is the cause of eye floaters, such as bleeding from diabetes or inflammation, should be treated. Eye floaters can be frustrating and adjusting to them can take time.
For another, it can indicate that high risk of suffering a major stroke. According to researchers, damage to the small blood vessels going to the eye should serve as a warning. This kind of blockage can cause almost immediate changes in vision. That includes darker spots or areas, blurriness, and shadows or floaters.