Can a person lose vision due to smartphone use? Here is the answer

Computer vision syndrome is a condition that can occur when a person spends long periods of time using a computer or phone digital device (Creative Commons)

Recently, a Hyderabad-based doctor shared a case study of a 30-year-old woman who developed vision impairment due to long-term use of smartphones.

In a series of tweets, the doctor also explained how something called “smartphone vision syndrome” is caused.

A common habit resulted in severe #vision impairment in a young woman

1. 30-year old Manju had severe disabling vision symptoms for one and half years. This included seeing floaters, bright flashes of light, dark zig zag lines and at times inability to see or focus on objects.

— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) February 6, 2023

“There were moments when she could not see anything for several seconds. This occurred mostly at night when she got up to use the washroom. An eye specialist evaluated her and a detailed evaluation was found to be normal. She was referred to rule out neurological causes [sic],” Dr Sudhir Kumar said in a tweet.

He further said that his patient started developing symptoms of impaired vision after she quit her job as a beautician to take care of her child.

She was apparently using smartphones for several hours, including over two hours at night, when the lights inside her room were switched off.

However, the doctor also shared that the patient’s vision was restored after a month of corrective action including her momentary loss of vision at night.

Also read: The case of woman’s left eye becoming smaller in the evenings

No permanent loss of vision

However, ophthalmologists told South First that there was no documented case of permanent loss of vision due to the usage of digital devices.

“Vision loss is quite a harsh and big term. A person cannot lose their vision permanently due to this,” Dr Ravindra Mohan, the head of the Ophthalmology Department at MGM Healthcare in Tamil Nadu, told South First.

“There is an existing phenomenon called ‘digital eye strain’, which is also known as ‘computer vision syndrome’, and now many are using it as ‘smartphone vision syndrome’,” he explained.

He said that computer vision syndrome is a condition that can occur when a person spends long periods of time using a computer or phone, or any digital device.

This causes eye strain, dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain.

These days, everyone is using some device or the other, which has led to computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain.

Smartphone vision syndrome is caused by a combination of factors, including:

• Prolonged screen time: Spending extended periods of time looking at small screens, such as those on smartphones, can lead to eye strain and discomfort.
• Poor screen positioning: Holding your smartphone too close to your face or at an improper angle can cause eye strain and neck and shoulder pain.
• Glare: The bright screens and glare from surrounding lights can strain your eyes and make it difficult to see clearly.
• Low screen resolution: Small, low-resolution screens can make text difficult to read, causing eye strain and headaches.
• Blue light: The blue light emitted by digital screens can disrupt your circadian rhythm and interfere with sleep patterns.
• Poor lighting conditions: Viewing screens in dimly lit or dark environments can cause eye strain and make it difficult to see the screen clearly.
• Vision problems: People with pre-existing vision problems, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, may experience increased symptoms of smartphone vision syndrome.

“If you look at the Hyderabad woman case, there were several factors contributing to this. Very compulsive use of the device continuously for two-three hours, she was using the device in the dark and she had some other issues also,” said Mohan.

A regular phenomenon

Mohan said that when bright light falls on the eye for some time, even at eye check-ups, a person is unable to see anything for a few seconds.

“That is physiological, that is normal. Even when you go to watch a film in the dark cinema hall and come out at the end, even then your vision will relapse because your eyes are not used to it,” Mohan explained.

The normal phenomenon occurs due to the bleaching of the retinal pigments due to bright light. Called photostress recovery time (PSRT), it lasts 15-30 seconds.

There is a transient loss of vision of variable degrees based on the brightness of the light source and the duration for which it is seen.

Blinking is important

“When you are looking at computers or books for long durations, the eyes become strained and are working much more than normal. That causes headaches and strain; people blank out. And later and end of the day, they don’t feel like looking at the screen any more,” said Mohan.

Consultant ophthalmologist at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad, Dr Sunitha Kamalla said that when using a digital device, people tend to blink less frequently, which can lead to dry, irritated eyes.

“Blinking plays an important role in maintaining healthy eyes and preventing computer vision syndrome (CVS). Blinking helps to lubricate the eyes, prevent dryness, and flush away irritants,” she told South First.

“A person normally blinks 10-15 times per minute. When a person looks at any digital device, the frequency decrease to four-six times, which is not a good sign,” said Mohan.

Kamalla said blinking helps to refocus the eyes, reducing eye strain and fatigue.

“To help prevent CVS, it is important to consciously blink regularly while using a computer or other digital device, and to take frequent breaks to rest the eye,” she explained.

She added that a person should follow the 20-20-20 rule while using digital devices.

“Take a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away every 20 minutes,” explained Kamalla.