In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the removal of fuel subsidies by the current administration in Nigeria have led to significantly increased screen time for Nigerian workers and youngsters. The shift to remote work and limited mobility due to high transportation costs has forced individuals to rely heavily on laptops and smartphones for work, entertainment, and staying connected with societal events. However, this prolonged screen time poses significant risks to eye health, with myopia and other related sight diseases becoming a growing concern in Nigeria. In this report, Ogbodo Ozioma Favour delves into the impact of increased screen time on Nigerian workers and children, examining the potential consequences on their eye health.
The aftermath of the global COVID-19 pandemic has compelled numerous Nigerian companies and organizations to adopt remote work policies, leading to a surge in screen usage.
According to The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 70% of Nigerian employees had to work from home during the lockdown. Many individuals turned to laptops and smartphones to carry out their daily tasks, stay connected, and access daily news updates. Simultaneously, removing fuel subsidies intensified transportation costs, discouraging mobility and increasing reliance on technology.
Excessive screen time has been linked to numerous eye health issues, particularly myopia or nearsightedness. Recent studies show a significant increase in the prevalence of myopia among youngsters and adults due to prolonged near-work activities, including online learning and remote work globally, and Nigeria is no exception. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 2.2 billion people globally suffer from myopia, projecting the number to rise to 5 billion (50%) by 2050 if current trends continue.
The Impact on Nigerian Workers:
Mr. Ayegba Emmanuel, a tech instructor, shared his experience, stating, “I spend hours working daily and interacting via my laptop, and my eyes often feel strained.
“Prolonged screen time causes the highest discomfort for me. It interferes with sleep and messes up with my emotions, causing my eyes to have this sandy sensation coupled with constant headaches.” He added, “I went to the hospital and was given anti-glare ray glasses as well as some medication.”
Similarly, Ebenezer, a Nigerian in his early 20s and a website designer, expressed his concerns, “I usually feel pain, especially from sitting for too long. When I stay on my system for too long, I start tearing up, and my fingers also start to itch. I try as much as possible not to stay on too long, sit upright, and avoid staying too close to my computer.”
Expert Opinion:
Ophthalmologist Dr. Ijeoma Nnabike explained, “Prolonged screen time, especially nearby, strains the eye muscles, leading to myopia and a range of other sight diseases.” Dr. Nnabike recommended that all screen workers should get anti-reflective coated lenses.
She further explained, “Anti-reflective lenses have a coating which is sometimes referred to as an AR coating, multi-coat, or anti-glaring coating, which helps in reducing the amount of light that reflects off our lenses. It is best recommended to get ‘photochromic transition lenses’ that cut as many reflective rays as possible but are more costly than normal glasses.”
She also highlighted the challenges in accessing proper eye care, stating, “The National Health Scheme is what is obtainable outside Government hospitals, and they do not give out any form of lenses anymore.
“This is a public health crisis due to the surge in remote work and screen usage. Though there is no official standard screen time usage in Nigeria, it’s always best to get your eyes checked daily if there’s any refractive error to get it corrected.”
Work-life balance and employee well-being are crucial factors in addressing the impact of screen time on Nigerian workers. Some progressive companies have implemented measures such as flexible working hours, encouraging breaks, and providing ergonomic workstations. However, such initiatives remain limited, and most organizations lack comprehensive policies to safeguard the eye health of their employees.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the removal of fuel subsidies have inadvertently led to a surge in screen time for Nigerian workers and youngsters. This increased usage poses a potential threat to eye health, with myopia and related sight diseases becoming increasingly prevalent. To ensure the well-being of employees and students, both individuals and organizations need to acknowledge the risks associated with prolonged screen time and take proactive steps to mitigate them. By implementing policies that promote work-life balance and providing education on proper eye care, Nigeria can safeguard its workforce and future generations from the adverse effects of excessive screen usage.
