Is it bad to use your cell phone in the dark? Does it cause cancer? Learn how to protect your eyes

A very common habit found in the routines of a large part of the population: touching prison cell, For example, after a whole day of work, under the covers, in the dark room and before bed.

The question is whether and how this can be harmful to our health eyes. First of all, it is necessary to point out that no matter what environment you are in, a screen with a lot of brightness and even extreme brightness requires a lot of effort from the eye, which can lead to problems in maintaining focus in it. In addition to dry eyes. But then, what do you do in these cases?

according to ophthalmologist, Nilo Resende, To improve this situation, the ideal is for a person to increase the illumination of the place, reducing differences in eye adaptation, and thus reducing visual fatigue. “The suggestion is ambient light between 75-150 lux in the case of typical LCDs. The use of LCDs with lower reflectivity and higher latent luminance indices can improve viewing conditions, resulting in a better ergonomics in video readouts,” he said. Doctor.

How does our vision work in the dark?

Darkvision leads to a phenomenon called dilated pupils And it’s nothing more than stretching The student, the smallest black eye circle. It is important to clarify that the pupils have the function of controlling the entry of light into the eye, contracting or dilating according to the illumination. Mydriasis can further deteriorate visual quality.

Could long hours in front of screens lead to blindness or the need to wear glasses?

According to the specialist, when talking about screen exposure, the biggest concern is with Nearsightedness An issue with excessive screen use.

Nilo Resende also remembers that kids who spend too much time in front of cell phones and computers and aren’t exposed to sunlight are often left with a production dopamine Hearing impairment. This substance is responsible for controlling the growth of the eye and helps prevent it from becoming an “oblong” eye and developing myopia.

“Myopia occurs when the visual focus forms in front of the retina, causing difficulty in clearly seeing what is far away. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), between 2020 and 2050, it is estimated that myopia has increased by 89% in Brazil : During the epidemic period, there was a 39% increase in the number of visits to children with the disease in the public hospital network, according to the Ministry of Health of Brasilia.

Photo: Photo: Freepik

Some signs can alert you if cellphone time is straining your eyes. These include itching, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and burning eyes. If any of these symptoms appear, it is important to seek advice from an ophthalmologist.

Cell phone use in the dark causes cancer or blindness

The expert warns: the statement is nothing but fake newsWhere there is no association between eye cancer and blindness, and between cytology.

“The American Cancer Society, the US National Library of Medicine, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology also did not issue any warnings about the relationship between cell phone use (at night or otherwise) and eye cancer.”

Check out tips to protect your eyes from screen exposure

There are several ways to prevent and prevent eye health problems. The main thing is, every two hours, rest for five minutes, closing your eyes or focusing on distant objects, such as looking out of the window, for example, the ophthalmologist recommends.

1. Keep your cell phone away from your face, at or slightly below eye level;
2. Avoid nearby lights, direct lights on the screen, or reflections on the screen;
3. Leave the cell phone in night mode: Doing so can alleviate the potential effects of eye strain, dryness, and the induction of myopia.

For those who are in doubt about how long they can use a cell phone without harming the eyes, first of all, it is worth remembering that it varies depending on the age of the individual.

World Health Organization (Who is the) recommends that the ideal is that children under the age of one year should not be exposed to a computer screen. Already enter 2 and 5 yearsshould not exceed the maximum time 60 minutes Daily and always supervised by parents or guardians.

among teenagers 11 and 18 years old It should limit the time 3 hours They are not allowed to spend the night playing games or have free access to their cell phones.

In addition, the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP) published in 2016 a guide called # Without screen # Healthier. The document provides recommendations for the use of screens by age as well as a series of information and cautions for children’s health.