In this digital age, people rely heavily on computers, laptops, tablets or even smart phones to complete their daily task, it is not too much to say that most people spend almost 6-8 hours in front of a screen. All these digital devices transmit light that may cause damages to our retina and lead to many other more visual impairments.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 2.2 billion people have vision impairment and nearly half of them could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed. Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment are uncorrected refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Some vision problems have no warning signs and can cause permanent vision loss if left uncorrected. Warning signs of vision problems includes:

• Dry and tired eyes
• Blurred or double vision
• Impaired close-up, side or night vision
• Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription
• Problems with glare from lamps or the sun
• White spot or cloudy spot in the lens of the eye

There are a few steps we could take to delay the onset and severity of the impairment:

1. Eat a balance diet that includes Lutein and Zeaxanthin, Omega-3, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Zinc
2. Quit smoking
3. Take care of other health problems e.g. diabetes or other medical conditions
4. Protect our eyes from injury by wearing eye protections during hazardous work
5. Wear sunglasses to protect our eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays
6. Practice eye exercises and taking breaks during prolong use of digital devices
7. Go for regular eye exams