Increasing use of electronic devices is likely to lead to eye strain and long-term retinal damage according to optometrists.

Nine in every ten optometrists in New Zealand are concerned about the number of people they're seeing with eye damage related to digital device use.

They say some children as young as five years old are presenting with problems as a result.

Dunedin optometrist Peter Dick says strained vision, headaches and sleep deprivation are all linked to high energy blue light emitted by flat screens.

He says there's a cumulative effect from regularly switching between different devices.

People aged between 30 and 40 tend to be most affected, but teenagers are also in a high risk group.

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