THE average adult will spend the equivalent of 34 years of their lives staring at screens.

Research polling 2,000 Brits found more than 4,866 hours a year are spent glued to gadgets such as phones, laptops and televisions.

This equates to an astonishing 301,733 hours over the average adult lifetime of 62 years.

Up to three and a half hours a day will be spent looking at TV screens, with at least four hours staring at laptops, and two hours and 25 minutes gazing at phones.

E-readers and gaming devices also contribute to a total of more than 13 hours a day spent looking at a screen.

But people believe less than half the time they spend on these devices is “productive.”

Despite this, 64 percent admitted they wouldn’t know what to do without their screen time, especially during the lockdown.

And 17 percent would even go so far as to say they feel anxious if they’re away from their phone for too long.

Benjamin Dumaine, optician and head of business development for Vision Direct, which commissioned the study, said: “We’re lucky to have devices that connect us with the outside world.

“A similar pandemic taking place 30 or 40 years ago would have seen people coping with the lack of contact in very different ways.

“However, it’s important to be aware of what excess screen time can do in terms of your eye health and keep on top of overdoing it when it comes to screens.

“We’d suggest making the most of the government’s advice to exercise, to help give that essential screen break.”

The study also found it takes less than 20 minutes for the average adult to look at a screen after waking up each day — with nearly a third taking a glance within five minutes.

(SD-Agencies)