Millions of cheeky Brits have been warned they are at risk of contracting ‘Porn Eye’.
As the UK prepares for the second week of working from home, opticians urged people to ration the time they spend glued to their phones and laptops.
Ahead of World Optometry Day (Mon 23 Mar) boffins at spectacle brand Cubitts are encouraging adults to give their eyes a rest from non-stop screen-time.
With millions working from home, there has been a surge in video calls and conferencing.
But Cubitts founder Tom Broughton suggested people are indulging in more than spreadsheets and video calls in the comfort of their own home.
He coined the term ‘Porn Eye’ for “a generation who are living out their lives on smartphones and thereby damaging their sight”, and has seen a sharp rise in prescription glasses since they launched in 2013.
He said: “Porn Eye is a condition which puts undue stress and tension on eyes through continuous mobile phone viewing.
“Watching adult material on a smart-phone is not going to help your eyesight; you are looking at tiny images and sometimes the video quality can be poor, which leaves you straining your eyes.
“There’s a joke about a certain physical activity making you blind, but we want to make the serious point that as the nation adjusts to home office life, we’ll undoubtedly be more reliant on screens more than ever before.
“So it is more important than ever that we look after our eyeballs.
"We as adults know that sometimes some light relief will help us get through a stressful time, but let us not make it detrimental to our vision.
“It’s alarming that The College of Optometrists found just 5 per cent of over-40s have had an eye test in the past 10 years, while the RNIB (Royal National Institute For Blind People) found 23 per cent of those they polled have difficulties seeing up close or at a distance, but have not sought any help to remedy this.
“Our campaign may seem frivolous, but we want to mark this important day with a very real message: there are two balls essential for our sight, so let’s look after them.”
Senior Cubitts optometrist Betony Spall said: “We blink up to five times less than normal when in front of a screen, which can result in dry, sore eyes, variability in vision and some watering.
“Try to apply the 20-20-20 method: for every 20 minutes in front of a screen, take a 20-second break, and look out at an object 20 feet away.”
Cubitts are also encouraging the nation to practice Safe Specs and keep their eyewear clean during this time.
Broughton added: “You may have washed your hands and wiped down your phone more times than you can count, but don't forget what's sitting on the end of your nose."
Keep your spectacles and sunglasses squeaky clean by following these five simple steps.
1. Squirt a little household soap onto your spectacles. The kind you use to wash your hands will do.
2. Rub soap into the frame, and make sure it reaches every corner and crevice.
3. Rinse the soap off thoroughly using warm water.
4. Dry the frame with a microfibre cleaning cloth. Do not use your shirt, kitchen roll, or other random fabrics you have to hand. They may scratch your lenses.
5. Repeat at frequent intervals throughout the day.
Cubitts offer a ‘home try on’ service, mailing four different designer frames to try before you buy. More details at www.cubitts.com
