Hyderabad: Mobiles ruin kids' eyesight

Hyderabad: Excessive use of smartphones for more than seven hours is leading to problems of myopia, dry eyes and in the long term, can cause early macular degeneration. This was the observation made by ophthalmologists after they found children in the age-group of four years onwards having refractive errors. The incidence of myopia in India is as high as 13 per cent in school-going children, according to a study carried out by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. 

Several experiments have been carried out about the direct relation between myopia and work that involves peering to establish a direct link. However the studies have not been able to establish the direct relationship.

Significantly, excessive use is going to create these future eye problems of macular degeneration which is now seen after 60 and even 70 years of age. Experts also state that the constant viewing of mobile phone leads to earlier macular degeneration and also cataract which will be seen in those before turning 50 in the next decade.

Dr Prashanth Gupta, senior ophthalmologist at Apollo Hospitals, explained, “The adverse effects of blue light have been documented and the increasing incidence of eye problems like blurred vision, dry eyes and refractive errors state that its excessive use is a concern. When children as young as two to three years are given gadgets by their parents, they are exposing eyesight that is evolving. The pixels of the light increase the temperature in the eyes and this heat affects the retina.”

Studies on cell phone radiation have shown that the electromagnetic waves affect the human eye. The cornea, retina and ocular systems of the eye absorb electromagnetic energy very quickly. The heat absorbed by the eye does not get transmitted or radiated out of the body. During prolonged cell phone usage, the temperature in the ocular system increases and that affects the eyes.

Dr Atul Gupta, senior ophthalmologist, with Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, explained, “When young children as early as two to three years are exposed to blue light effect then their growth also gets affected. The condition of lazy eyes is due to problems of neurological development in the brain. But of late we are seeing cases where radiation could have an effect and lead to this condition.” The prevalence of lazy eyes is only 1 to 3 per cent in the population.

Sight development gets affected when the child is constantly looking with the phone. The most obvious cases coming to ophthalmologists in the age group of 4 to 10 years is of blurred vision. These are picked up at the school level when the blackboard is not clearly visible.