Eye diseases burden going up with increasing screen time

Overuse of electronic gadgets like smartphones, computers and laptops is a major reason behind the increasing burden of eye diseases in India.

The most important tip for good retinal health is getting regular eye check-ups from an optometrist or ophthalmologist, it can help prevent diseases or detect conditions early to help manage the disease on time with the right treatment and prevent vision loss. Diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) can lead to significant vision loss or impairment if not managed accurately.

Dr Rajiv Raman, Senior Consultant Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya said, “Despite great improvement of medical facilities in India we have seen an increase in visual impairment over the last few years, which is mainly due to poor awareness regarding eye diseases among patients. The increase in longevity has increased the age-related problems in lens Cataract and Age related macular degeneration.”

He added that likewise, we have seen a rapid increase in diabetic retinal disease, due to increase in diabetes in India. Timely diagnosis and treatment is of utmost importance without which the condition can progress and may lead to irreversible vision loss,” he said.

Eye-related problems due to excessive screen time

Dry eyes: Staring at the screen for long hours prevents us from blinking as frequently as we should. This exposes the film of tears protecting the surface of the eyes and causes dryness and irritation

Eye Fatigue: Asthenopia, ocular fatigue or eye fatigue is a condition where the eyes are tired from intense use and can go away with rest.

Age-related macular degeneration: AMD affects the central vision and is quite common in aged people. Since heavy exposure to blue light from the screen damages the retina, it triggers early onset of AMD

Near sightedness: Myopia or near sightedness is caused by staying indoors and staring at screen for long.