Can Just an Hour of Scrolling Reels Lead to Eye Strain? Study Provides Insights

“Social media content causes greater pupil fluctuations than reading or watching a video,” the researchers noted. They added that “prolonged smartphone use, exceeding 20 minutes at a time, can lead to physical and mental health issues, including psychophysiological disorders.” According to the findings, social media reels, which feature rapid screen brightness and intensity changes, reduce blink rate and increase inter-blink intervals and pupil dilation, making them especially likely to cause eye fatigue.

The effects were not limited to eye discomfort. About 60% of participants reported symptoms such as neck pain, hand fatigue, and moderate to severe eyestrain. Even more strikingly, 83% of the participants indicated experiencing psychophysiological disorders like anxiety, disturbed sleep, and mental exhaustion after prolonged screen use.

To mitigate these effects, 40% of users said they adopted screen hygiene practices such as using blue light filters or enabling dark mode. The study underscores the need for awareness around responsible smartphone usage, particularly with the increasing popularity of short-form video content that may accelerate visual fatigue.

Reference: Dandumahanti, B. P., Chittoor, P. K., & Subramaniyam, M. (2025). Digital Eye Strain Monitoring for One-Hour Smartphone Engagement Through Eye Activity Measurement System. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 18(4), 34.