The increased use of digital devices, computers, television and tablets exposes us to more blue light each day.

Eye professionals are concerned the constant use of digital devices could eventually result in long-term health problems.

Dr. Scott Edmonds, chief eye care officer for UnitedHealthcare Vision, said it is important to know the warning signs if you are looking at your screens and digital devices too long.

"People that work on the screens all the time will report that their eyes feel scratchy or burning; they often notice that the print goes in and out of focus; their eyes may tear, they get red and irritated," Edmonds outlined. "People can get headaches, brain fog, and those are kind of the things that mean you've really been on that screen too long."

Edmonds suggested annual eye exams can help keep your eyes healthy throughout your life and identify the source of eye strain. He added certain diseases such as glaucoma can ultimately damage your sight, and by the time it is diagnosed, it can be a loss which cannot be recovered.

Dr. Donald Morris, an ophthalmologist in Pittsburgh, said blue light is important in our waking cycle, to wake us up and decrease melatonin production. But he added it also affects your ability to prepare for sleep.

"So we know that it messes with what's called our circadian rhythms, and our circadian rhythms are what essentially create our sleeping and waking cycle," Morris explained. "And again, because blue light can affect melatonin production, it can decrease it. When we're looking at it in the evening, it can make it harder for us to go to sleep."

Morris pointed out some people experience digital eye strain when they spend too much time looking at computer screens. He noted their eyes get tired, they burn, and things get blurry. It gets harder for them to concentrate, and the surface of the eye tends to dry. He said the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends taking breaks from looking at a screen.

"The ways to help with digital eyestrain are something called the 20-20-20 rule," Morris emphasized. "When you're on the computer for long periods of time, after about 20 minutes, take a break, and look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds."

Morris added it is important to be cautious of exposure to high-energy light such as ultraviolet light from the sun, which increases the risks of eye diseases, including cataracts, cancers or growths around the eyes, and likely macular degeneration. He recommended wearing ultraviolet protection in glasses and sunglasses.

People who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, will be dropped from their CoveredCA health plans at the end of August.

The move comes after the Trump administration changed a Biden-era definition of "lawfully present" to revoke health care eligibility for thousands of immigrants.

Christine Smith, policy and legislative advocate for the nonprofit Health Access California, said people only have a few weeks to get medical appointments in before their coverage ends.

"If you're enrolled in Covered California and you're a DACA recipient, the Trump administration just ended your coverage," Smith emphasized. "People should use as much of your health care as you can before the August 31st deadline."

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services defended the move, saying it will save taxpayers money. CoveredCA estimated the change affects about 2,400 DACA recipients in the state who make too much to qualify for Medi-Cal and have jobs not providing health insurance. They can still buy private insurance but it is much more expensive. People who prepaid for their coverage can seek a refund.

Smith predicted it will be a blow not just to those who lose coverage but to the state's health care system as a whole.

"The lines in the ERs are going to be longer because people are not going to be able to get affordable preventive care," Smith projected. "They're just going to get sicker and then end up in the ERs. People will overall incur more medical debt. Hospitals will have more uncompensated care."

The change is nationwide. As of mid-July, about 538,000 people in the DACA program across the U.S. are ineligible to enroll in any state-based insurance marketplace and are unable to access premium subsidies or cost-sharing assistance.

Artificial intelligence is appearing more prominently in many aspects of life and research suggests older populations are curious, yet remain wary of using the technology in their everyday lives.

According to Stats Indiana, there are more than 1.5 million Hoosiers aged 65 and older, or 18% of the state's population. Experts said it is likely the demographic will use AI in some form in the next few years, either by choice or necessity.

Dr. Shaun Grannis, vice president of data and analytics for the Regenstrief Institute on Aging, said AI offers real benefits.

"It can reduce loneliness through conversation, provide reminders for medications and appointments," Grannis outlined. "It can support cognitive stimulation via games, storytelling, news updates."

The technology can also offer a low-pressure way to access information on public services, he added, which is valuable for those with mobility issues or those who feel intimidated by technology.

Grannis cautioned any tool which can be used for good can also lead to problems. He noted AI can create a false sense of companionship and mask social isolation. Overdependence is a legitimate concern, he argued, if the technology becomes a "crutch" for all forms of interaction.

"All cognitive activities or decision-making, it can actually lead to and create a negative feedback loop, lead to a decline in engagement and even basic self-management skills," Grannis explained. "This is risky."

Grannis believes one solution is designing AI systems to complement, not replace, human interaction. He stressed it can be done though building broader support ecosystems including family, friends, caregivers and community services. Grannis emphasized it would encourage real-world activity, prompting the user to go for a walk, call a grandchild or attend a local senior event.

If you have an extra five minutes, you can save a life because you can learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation at no cost from a new mobile, hands-only CPR kiosk.

The new kiosk is in the lobby of Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica. The machine's touch screen gives a brief overview of hands-only CPR and you can practice right there, on a mannequin.

Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, cardiologist at St. John's, said it is an easy way for people to get more comfortable giving chest compressions in an emergency.

"It's a lot like a video game but of course, a lot more important than a video game," Tadwalkar pointed out. "It gives real-time feedback about the depth and rate of compressions, proper hand placement, which are all factors that influence the effectiveness of CPR."

The American Heart Association operates the St. John's mobile kiosk and a stationary model at L-A-X with support from the hospital. Santiago Canyon College in Orange County also has a mobile hands-only C-P-R kiosk now through September, sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences.

Steven Munatones, an Orange County business owner, said he survived what's known as a "widowmaker" heart attack which led to cardiac arrest nine years ago, thanks to his 17-year-old son, who gave him immediate CPR with instructions from a 911 operator.

"You don't have to put your mouth to anybody's mouth," Munatones explained. "You just put your hand on their chest and pump. He saved me, and others can do the same, anywhere. So, it's absolutely a lifesaving, heroic act that anybody can do."

Statistics show 350,000 Americans suffer from cardiac arrest outside a hospital each year and about 90% die, in part because they do not receive CPR. About 70% of those cardiac arrests happen at home, so people often depend on family or friends to give CPR before an ambulance arrives.