A unique case of severe vision impairment came to light in a 30-year-old woman from Hyderabad. For the last 18 months, the woman has had disabling vision symptoms, including seeing floaters, dark zig-zag lines, and bright light flashes.
Many times, she was unable to see or focus on objects. There were instances where she could not see anything for a few moments, especially at night when she got up to use the washroom.
What Happened To The Woman?
With all the reports regular in the analysis of the eye specialist, the woman was referred to Dr. Sudhir Kumar, MD DM, Neurologist at Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad, to rule out neurological causes. On reviewing her history, it was found that she was suffering from Smartphone Vision Syndrome.
The expert noted that her symptoms started when she picked up a “new habit of browsing through her smartphone for several hours daily, including more than 2 hours at night with lights switched off.” She was advised to minimise her smartphone use without any medical prescription. In one month, her impairment disappeared.
What Is Smartphone Vision Syndrome?
Computer Vision Syndrome or digital eye strain is also called Smartphone Vision Syndrome. This is a result of the prolonged use of digital devices such as smartphones, computers, and laptops. Fortunately, it is reversible.
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The continuous focus on small text on the screen and the light glare from the screen is the leading cause of the syndrome. Symptoms of this condition include- dry eyes, headache, eye fatigue, blurred vision, and neck and shoulder pain.
Tips To Avoid The Syndrome
Dr. Abhishek Hoshing, Consultant, Ophthalmology, Apollo Hospital, Navi Mumbai said, “To alleviate the symptoms, it is recommended to take regular breaks, adjust screen brightness and contrast, and screens, leading to eye strain and fatigue.”
People who require to spend a lot of time on screens should avoid smartphones and other devices in low light conditions and keep the room’s lights bright so that the glare on the screen is reduced.
The 20-20-20 rule is helpful in this case. This rule says that after every 20 minutes, focus on any object 20 feet away from the screen for 20 seconds. Also, blinking helps keep eyes moist and reduces the risk of dry eyes.
The importance of the screen is huge, but for seeing the screen, vision is important too. Without smartphones, living life is impossible, but we can use them in a balanced way, with all the precautions, so that eyes and screens can complement each other.
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: India Today, News 18, NDTV
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This post is tagged under: smartphone, vision, syndrome, computer, screen, digital, blindness, temporary blind, woman, low light, glare, 20-20-20 rule, blinking, alleviate, minimise screen time, vision loss, digital eye strain, reversible, dry eyes, headache, blurred vision
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