Technology expert Akin Ibitoye has advised Nigerians to be mindful of the time they spend on screens, warning that excessive use of phones and laptops can strain the eyes and negatively affect sleep. During an interview on The Morning Brief aired Monday on Channels Television, Ibitoye emphasized that prolonged exposure to screens leads to eye discomfort over time if not properly managed. “The longer you stare at screens, the more pressure you put on your eyes,” he said. “There are steps we can take to protect our eye health.”
He pointed out that most people spend over two hours daily on their phones, drawn in by engaging content, yet unaware of the potential harm. One of the key issues, he noted, is blue light a type of artificial light from screens that disrupts sleep by interfering with the body’s melatonin levels.
“Blue light is particularly damaging,” Ibitoye stated. “It can make it difficult to fall asleep.”
To help minimize these effects, he recommended the widely-endorsed “20-20-20” rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to help reduce eye strain and keep the eye muscles active.
Ibitoye emphasized the importance of treating eye health with the same seriousness as physical and mental wellness. He encouraged users to take regular screen breaks, use blue light filters, dim screen brightness when possible, and spend more time offline.
