New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Scrolling through social media reels for just an hour on a smartphone may trigger eye fatigue, according to a new study.
Published in the Journal of Eye Movement Research, the study highlighted that it’s not just screen time but also the type of content consumed that impacts eye health.
“Social media content causes greater pupil fluctuations compared to reading or watching videos,” noted researchers from the SRM Institute of Science and Technology.
The team found that prolonged smartphone use — beyond 20 minutes at a stretch — can contribute to both physical and mental health concerns, including psychophysiological disorders. Continuous exposure to digital screens and blue light is linked to eyestrain, sleep disruption, and other visual issues.
To assess the effect of one hour of smartphone use on eye fatigue among young Indian adults, the researchers developed a portable, low-cost device to track visual activity. It measured blink rate, inter-blink interval, and pupil diameter during sessions of e-book reading, video viewing, and scrolling through short-form reels.
Results showed that reels, with their constant screen brightness and intensity shifts, reduced blink rate and altered pupil dilation, leading to visual fatigue.
About 60 per cent of participants reported mild to severe discomfort after extended smartphone use, including eyestrain, neck stiffness, and hand fatigue. Additionally, 83 per cent experienced issues such as anxiety, sleep problems, or mental exhaustion.
To counteract these effects, 40 per cent of participants said they used measures like blue light filters or dark mode to ease screen exposure.
