An eye health charity is urging people to adopt the "20-20-20" rule to protect their sight, as lockdowns have increased screen time. Fight for Sight recommends looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes of screen use.
A survey of 2,000 adults found half had increased screen use since the pandemic began, and 38% of those believed their eyesight had worsened. One in five were less likely to get an eye test due to fear of catching or spreading Covid-19.
Respondents reported difficulty reading, headaches, migraines, and poorer night vision. Fight for Sight chief executive Sherine Krause said: "More than half of all cases of sight loss are avoidable through early detection and prevention methods. Regular eye tests can often detect symptomless sight-threatening conditions."
Opticians remain open for appointments under lockdown restrictions. The College of Optometrists said its members should continue to provide eye care, with clinical adviser Paramdeep Bilkhu noting that screen use is unlikely to cause permanent harm but urging anyone with vision changes to contact their optometrist.
UK health and safety legislation requires employers to pay for eye tests for employees who use screens for more than one hour daily. In summer, the UK Ophthalmology Alliance and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists estimated at least 10,000 people missed essential eye care in Britain.
