Unmanaged screen time results in an estimated $151B in costs in 2023, AOA reports
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Key takeaways:
- More than 104 million working-age Americans spend more than 7 hours a day in front of screens.
- Nearly one-third of those who reported excessive screen time had not seen an optometrist in the past 12 months.
More than 104 million working-age Americans spend more than 7 hours a day in front of screens, resulting in an estimated $151 billion in health system, productivity and well-being costs, the American Optometric Association reported.
With a rise in screen time exposure and related eye issues like myopia and digital eye strain, the AOA commissioned a Deloitte Economics Institute report to understand the impact of unmanaged screen time in the U.S., as well as optometrists’ role in preventing additional costs through annual exams.
“It’s impossible to ignore the impact that digital devices have had on our daily lives, particularly in the workplace,” Simone Cheung, a partner at Deloitte Economics Institute who led the report, said in an AOA press release. “Through our study with AOA, we were able to quantify the cost of unmanaged screen time and gain insight into the impact on not only Americans’ health, but employers and the overall health system.”
Key findings from the report include that nearly 70% of individuals in office jobs are exposed to excessive screen time compared with 42% of individuals in other professions. In addition, 31.8 million people — or a about a third of those surveyed — with reportedly high screen time had not seen an optometrist in the past 12 months, and 55% of those respondents reported experiencing vision-related symptoms that could be treated by an optometrist.
The report also estimated that if those exposed to excessive screen time received an annual eye exam, there could be an annual gain of up to $45.5 billion in productivity and $26.3 billion in well-being improvements.
“Up until now, we could see in our practices anecdotally that America’s excessive screen time-use had very real consequences for eye health,” Ronald L. Benner, OD, AOA president, said in the release. “Through this report, we have even more data showing that not visiting a doctor of optometry can have notable cost implications and potentially reduce quality of life. These findings further underscore the importance of better screen time habits and receiving annual, in-person comprehensive eye exams with an AOA doctor of optometry to maintain your eye and overall health.”
Perspective
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Let’s face it, screens are everywhere — on computers, phones, tablets and almost anywhere we look.
Digital eye strain, also sometimes referred to as computer vision syndrome, affects at least 104 million people in the U.S. alone, including more than 70% of people who work in office jobs. A recent study by the AOA and Deloitte Economics Institute estimates that eye strain is costing the U.S. $73 billion annually.
Excessive screen time usually is defined as more than 7 hours of use a day; however, even as little as 2 hours a day, if left untreated, can cause health issues. This massive expense is estimated by costs incurred by our health systems, based on effects of decreased productivity, perceived effects on well-being, sleep disturbances, neck and back pain, headaches, dry eyes and blurry vision.
There are certain treatments that may help, such as blue light-blocking glasses, prescription computer glasses and, in some cases, vision therapy. In addition, using artificial tears for lubrication while using a screen for an extended period of time helps keep the eyes moist and comfortable. I recommend the 20/20/20 vision break rule, which means taking a visual break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, along with frequent blinking.
I also recommend proper distancing and angling of screens, along with blue light-blocking filters and antiglare filters, and making sure screens are clean and smudge-free to reduce glare and reflections. In addition, it is important to have proper room lighting to avoid glare, which may include using drapes or blinds and lower wattage overhead light, along with comfortable chairs and posturing. I advise my patients to not use screens close to bedtime, realizing that many of us have our phones right next to us in the bedroom.
Lastly, regular visits to your eye care professional are important, the frequency of which depends on age and any underlying conditions the individual may have.
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