Canadian Millennials Are Now Spending More Than 13 Hours Every Day Staring At Screens

Have you ever wondered how many hours you actually spend staring at a screen, every day? According to a new study from Alcon Canada, the answer is far too many! Their latest research suggests that the average Canadian millennial spends up to 13.1 hours a day staring at a screen of some kind, and this excessive amount of screen-time is starting to give us health problems.

According to Alcon's new study, the average Canadian is now spending about 11 hours every day looking at some sort of digital screen. Whether it be a computer screen, a smartphone, a tablet or a television screen, Alcon has revealed that our excessive use of screens on a daily basis is starting to have a serious impact on our eyes.

Optometrist Dr. Judy Parks explained, “More and more, I'm seeing patients in my clinic who are suffering from sore, tired eyes and blurry vision … They're actually suffering from dry eye due to the hours they're spending in front of screens, which is impacting eye health and vision across all ages."

In fact, the study revealed that more than 25 per cent of Canadians are living with dry eye, due to their excessive use of digital screens in their day-to-day life. Alcon’s research also found that more than 85 per cent of Canadians have experienced symptoms of dry eye at some point in their life, including watery eyes, blurred vision, redness, and difficulty with driving at night.

When it comes to excessive screen-time, millennial Canadians

are definitely the worst offenders. While those aged 65 and older are spending an average of 8.4 hours each day staring at screens, those aged between 18 and 34 are reportedly spending closer to 13.1 hours, every single day.

While 13.1 hours every day definitely sounds like a lot, when it is broken down it is easier to understand where the time actually goes! According to Alcon, Canadians spend approximately 4.2 hours per day using a computer screen, 3.1 hours watching television, 2.4 hours staring at a smartphone, and 1.5 hours looking at a tablet.

Alcon does have several tips to keep your peepers in tip-top shape if you spend a lot of time looking at a screen. The study recommends following the 20-20-20 rule, by taking a break from screens every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds, and looking 20 feet into the distance.

The research also suggests to always keep well hydrated, to take regular vitamins, and to regularly visit your local optometrist!

If you’re guilty of spending upwards of 13 hours each day looking at a screen, don’t be afraid to take a break from social media and Netflix for a few days! Your eyes will certainly thank you for it!

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