The Dangers of Smartphones to Our Eyes

August 15, 2024
7:09 am

There has been ongoing news about the dangers of smartphones to our eyes. Recently, there have been shared stories claiming that smartphones have caused some children to develop strabismus (crossed eyes), leading them to need surgery. However, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand has clarified that the medical research data is not yet sufficient to confirm whether smartphones directly cause strabismus in children. What we do know for sure is that the use of smartphones may lead to other negative health effects, such as:

Eye Pain and Headaches – When we read small text on a screen, it causes the muscles around our head, neck, and shoulders to tense up, leading to pain.
Blurry Vision – The eye muscles become fatigued, resulting in blurred vision.
Dry Eyes – Normally, we blink every 4 seconds, but when staring at a smartphone screen, we tend to blink much less, often only about half as much.
Insomnia or Poor Sleep Quality – The blue light emitted from the screen interferes with our sleep patterns, which can lead to various problems, from weight gain and poor memory to depression.

In addition, children who spend excessive time on smartphones and other electronic screens may have reduced time for activities with family and social interactions. This can lead to difficulties in socializing as they grow older or even result in less time for homework and reviewing lessons, which can affect their academic performance. Therefore, the solution is:

Stop using smartphones… This is probably the most effective solution, but if anyone can do it, please feel free to share with me too!
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet (about 7 meters) away for at least 20 seconds. This can help reduce headaches, eye strain, and blurry vision.
Don’t forget to blink frequently to prevent dry eyes.
Avoid using smartphones before bed, or if you do, reduce blue light by using features like Night Shift mode.
For kids, we can set rules about when they can use smartphones and for how long, which can also help instill discipline in them (Adults can try this too, but I think it may not work as effectively for them).
Engage in other activities, especially outdoor sports or family-friendly activities, so that kids don’t spend too much time fixated on screens.

Smartphones, like everything else, have both advantages and disadvantages. It depends on how we choose to view them or how we use them to our benefit.

Article by:
Dr. Nan (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manchima Makornwattana)

We provide specialized eye care services by ophthalmologists with expertise and experience, using state-of-the-art medical equipment and standardized surgical rooms

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