Can a person lose vision due to smartphone use?

Health By Sumit Jha February 17, 2023 Read the article

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

[{"selector":"#anim-fc45dcb9-c51a-4ea1-8b2f-37cdc705828f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-069d3ff1-ee0a-46d8-95ab-6e3863082676","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 45.14748%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24e8d914-477b-45be-8eff-82137ecde891","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54d5eb8b-29e7-41b6-a361-4d5edc569c69","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.89948%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

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

[{"selector":"#anim-54ed12a2-e256-4cb9-a1b9-27e76d2b8751","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-adaf02f4-e7d1-4900-b628-046f7ef5aa98","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.39646%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-362e757f-1840-465f-b521-04587006c833","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19d73bf5-b2ef-46a8-a84d-b4fe60a47cbe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 191.71377%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

Health Read the article

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

[{"selector":"#anim-25010f46-a353-40a7-a8c4-39cb6472aaae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba367c43-2568-4704-8ddd-caf19df1eda0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 47.89852%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4b1197b-9185-4941-9236-3dada56e46e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-96e3ed5a-3172-48a0-9fb9-ff9e63c46dd7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 156.94446%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

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.

[{"selector":"#anim-e1abb705-a36b-436d-a2b9-3a6d68193700","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0d32ca6-37d5-4097-92a3-6d534cd25f4e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 46.52301%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b769ebf2-ca6f-43f4-b35e-d8bd195d778e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65b037bb-e1fe-485f-bd6b-318d98046616","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.89948%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

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

[{"selector":"#anim-ce1f66ff-875b-4120-a81b-84bf47261366","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28546018-ff55-45ac-8e58-022fb5bde28e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.27403%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a29339d7-11b7-45d7-a4a2-edff748b4b79","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecebaab9-981e-4600-b4ba-f1c4e4f6c67f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 156.94446%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

“Vision loss is quite a harsh and big term. A person cannot lose their vision permanently due to this,” said Dr Ravindra Mohan, an ophthalmologist.

[{"selector":"#anim-7447cf4f-135f-4d16-9510-192394232fa1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd280ac2-e6d6-4363-a4c3-935d1469989c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 46.52301%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97c4a820-7ca7-4b83-8f9c-c6c349d5ce2c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91a7693f-a219-4cd1-a3fc-d7b7f43f8284","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.57974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

Spending long periods of time using any digital device causes eye strain, dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain.

[{"selector":"#anim-178d092b-6265-4d52-8960-1a99ffcfe3da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21914cca-2da7-4d22-9c72-1b3219c5b1a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 46.52301%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20f2e071-9edb-4f41-9774-41075f9d0468","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89d02044-3d4f-4c37-b813-c4f8d143f663","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.57974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

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.

[{"selector":"#anim-0e15397a-8dcf-4085-a830-d0111080fad9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61fa040a-7130-4b9b-9eec-e3784aaf813f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 45.14748%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c41b48bd-cab7-4f11-929f-2f92b07b9876","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3850adb-1696-473c-ae20-8cdcb1461a36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 164.77703%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

“When you are looking at computers or books for long durations, the eyes become strained and are working much more than normal.”

[{"selector":"#anim-e2d608fd-6d5c-47cd-9d79-01bb5b43fe63","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19620b6b-5f1c-4982-8ec2-194440e2f074","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 46.52301%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8bd676b7-4386-4484-aa7a-16ce1b56d9f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21f385c7-3009-4c73-a9f9-534c1a4b3017","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.57974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

Dr Sunitha Kamalla said that when using a digital device, people tend to blink less frequently, which can lead to dry, irritated eyes.

[{"selector":"#anim-6c543b50-f782-40b2-aa71-42deec07acf7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a00cd30-4c1a-4747-a78e-fbbb9246690e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 46.52301%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-96081a34-83df-4d3e-9282-04b7c5aa9b80","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61281bd7-946d-4d51-b471-8f10c7218e27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.57974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

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

[{"selector":"#anim-de4ac5e6-eefa-4fa1-bc84-4b8db2e4c96a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a76102d2-a317-4298-a791-20adc3a7a360","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 43.77197%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71c6938f-1487-4d06-aa51-41e6308298bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ba805d8-64dd-4af1-941f-4aae7b1d5cfd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 196.79850%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article