Eyestrain and neck pain are just two of the symptoms of a common vision condition continuing to affect Kiwis after prolonged exposure to digital devices, warn experts.
Optometrists are warning that more and more Kiwis are suffering from Presbyopia, an age related condition estimated to affect more than 2.2 million Kiwis aged over 40.
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The number of Kiwis in this age bracket is expected to increase to 2.6m by 2028 according to Government statistics.
The disorder results in the eye being no longer able to focus on near objects. It is often characterised by digital device users needing to hold their phone further away from their face or needing brighter lights to read by.
Optometrist Bruce Nicholls says the strain caused by trying to focus on small print for long periods can cause headaches and tired or sore eyes.
He says that constantly switching our focus between devices such as smartphones, tablets, PCs as well as hard copies of printed pages is putting our eyes under an unnatural level of stress.
"Presbyopia is a normal condition which has always been present in humans but in recent years our increasing dependence on digital devices has meant the frequency of these symptoms like headaches, eye strain and neck pain occurring seems to be on the rise," he says.
"For many people, devices are in constant use from the time we wake up until the time we go to sleep.
Palmerston North optometrist Brian Naylor says from the age of around 40, we lose some of our ability to focus each year and the change is often so subtle that patients are not aware of it until someone else points it out.
"We often see male patients coming to us in their late fifties who have been living with the condition for almost two decades," he says.
"The loss of lifestyle in that time can be significant and many of them have simply no interest in even reading the newspaper because the toll on their eyes is too much, but it's not until their family members point it out to them that they will come in for a check up."
Naylor says an increase in digital media hasn't helped, especially as the default font size of some smartphones is smaller than the equivalent hard copy newspaper.
"There are other ergonomic implications as well as extending the arm beyond a right angle to better focus on your device for any period of time is not a movement the body is accustomed to," he says.
"There is also a vanity factor in there, the traditional progressive lens which is associated with this condition is a sign of aging many middle aged men don't want to admit they are at that stage in their life.
"Unfortunately, left untreated the condition can potentially become a health and safety issue as these men may avoid reading key information such as instructions."
Maile Tarsau from Visique Eye Spy Optometrists says the early onset of presbyopia may be associated with other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or autoimmune disease and so it is important to have regular screenings if you are experiencing any reduction in vision symptoms or have any of these conditions.
Tarsau advises adults over 40 to be screened every two years by an optometrist and says new technology to treat the condition is entering the market regularly.
"Every person's vision has different 'blind spots' which impact on their ability to focus while reading, but new diagnostic equipment coming on to the market will now allow the creation of personalised lenses to treat presbyopia," she says.
"The equipment looks at a patient's posture and behaviour while reading text on a digital device and from that, a new type of Varilux Progressive lens can be made.
These glasses will allow users to switch between screens without having to shift their head in the same way the older style progressive lenses did."
Newshub.
