If your eyes feel strained or if you feel pain in your neck, shoulder or back after using a computer or other digital screen devices for a long period of time, chances are you could be suffering from what ophthalmologists call the Computer Vision Syndrome. Ophthalmologists describe the condition as a group of symptoms that occur when a person uses digital screen device for a prolonged period of time. And in the country, the national referral hospital is seeing increasing cases of the Syndrome.
On average, the hospital sees almost 30 cases every day. This is a result of the time we spend fiddling with mobile phones, looking at a computer screen or watching television.
“I use my phone as soon as I get free time. Now that we have unlimited data, I end up using my phone almost all night. We even forget to check the time while using the phone. I feel abnormal when I don’t use my phone,” said Rinchen Pelden who uses mobile phone constantly.
“I use the phone for news and updates. We also use the phone continuously to attend online classes,” said Sonam Deki who also uses
Nor Tshering Lepcha, a senior ophthalmologist with the national referral hospital explains the cost of such habits.
“The rays emitted from the device is continuously entering your eyes and they penetrate through all the layers and go up to the retina where photoreceptor sensitive cells are there. They get damaged. Another thing is when you are continuously starring, when you are looking near, the muscles have to come in the play to focus. So those muscles get tired if you are looking constantly. So you get strain and pain in and around the eyes.”
According to the American Optometric Association, which provides doctor-reviewed or doctor-approved information about the most common eye conditions, people who spend two or more continuous hours at a computer or using a digital screen device every day are at greatest risk for developing Computer Vision Syndrome. Experts in India say laptops can cause strain in two hours and smartphones take just 30 minutes.
In Bhutan, Nor Tshering says, the cases of Computer Vision Syndrome increased amid the pandemic as almost every activity moved online.
“Young generation who are using computers are affected. And we have seen that in the last decade the number has really increased. As such we have not documented. But the weakness of the eye especially with young people has increased. With that also comes other ocular conditions. Some, after looking at the screen for a long duration rub their eyes which leads to the development of corneal protrusion disease called keratoconus. We have never encountered keratoconus a decade ago. But now, we have to refer quite a number of cases of 10 to 12 in a year to do cross-linking therapy in India.”
He added it has also resulted in increased cases of shortsightedness where a person has difficulty in seeing objects at a distance. The condition happens when the eyes are too adapted to seeing only nearer objects.
“The blue light they enter up to the retina and bring about dying of photoreceptor cells at an early age. In this digital world when blue light is not filtered you are going to get age-related macular degeneration, one of the topmost causes of blindness in the western world. And now it is here in Bhutan that many people are getting an injection for that.”
Doctors recommend limited screen time and other corrective measures to avoid the Computer Vision Syndrome.
“So what we recommend is you view it from neither very far nor close distance but at a distance 40 to 45 cm which is the optimal viewing distance. And another thing is adequate room illumination. We don’t recommend a very bright room or a very dark room. Another thing is the workstation setup. The viewing distance of the screen and the eye should be at least 25 degrees below your eye level,” said Indra P. Sharma, an optometrist with the JDWNRH.
“What the rule says is 20 minutes you work and after that take a break of 20 seconds. We are not asking for 20 hours or 20 days’ break. Just 20 seconds’ break is enough for the eyes to relax. And in that 20 seconds, look 20 feet away. Six meters and beyond, our eye muscles do not have to work to focus. And another thing is even if you are working, think and blink. Because oxygen to the cornea is passed through the tears. If the eyes are dry, the cornea can be deprived of oxygen supply,” said Nor Tshering Lepcha.
They also recommend using blue light filters on digital screen devices.
With changing times, while it may seem impossible to stay away from digital devices, for now, it is advisable to follow the medical recommendations and stay away from catching the Syndrome or other eye diseases.
Phub Gyem
