There’s no direct evidence that TVs, computers, or phones cause nearsightedness. Yet worries about the effects persist. Our eyes adjust their shape to focus on “near work” with printed text or digital displays, so it seems plausible that extended bouts of reading might lead to lasting damage. But Kathryn Rose says this hypothesis has not been borne out.
That said, staring at screens can cause discomfort, says Mark Rosenfield of the State University of New York’s College of Optometry. In a study conducted by his lab, about 40 percent of office workers from a sample in Manhattan reported having symptoms of eyestrain for at least half the time they’re on duty, a condition he calls “Computer Vision Syndrome.”