The increased use of digital devices for online education among students has led to a higher prevalence of refractive errors, according to a survey by the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital based in New Panvel.
Refractive error causes vision to blur
Of the 247 students evaluated in the OPD (outdoor patient department) of the hospital, 79 students were detected for refractive error. Loe was 32 percent compared to the normal trend of 10 to 15 percent, according to doctors at the New Panvel-based hospital.
Refractive error causes vision to become fuzzy and fuzzy in a person’s eyes and common symptoms include headache and can lead to digital eye strain (DES)
What are the different types of refractive error?
The most common types of refractive errors are nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
- myopia It is a disorder in which close objects are seen clearly, while distant objects are blurred. With nearsightedness, light is focused in front of the retina instead of on the retina.
- hyperopia (also called farsightedness) is a common type of refractive error where you can see distant objects more clearly than close objects. However, people experience farsightedness in different ways. Some people may not notice any problems with their vision. Especially when they are young. While for people with considerable farsightedness, vision can be blurred for objects at any distance, whether near or far.
- astigmatism is a disorder in which the eye does not focus light evenly on the retina. The light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This can cause images to appear blurry or elongated.
Presbyopia or presbyopia is an age-related condition in which the ability to focus up close becomes more difficult. As the eye ages, the lens can no longer change shape enough to allow the eye to focus on nearby objects clearly.
Average time spent using electronic devices increased to 5 hours per day
According to another study recently published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, of the 217 students who participated in the survey. 109 students were found to have DES, of which 26 percent were mild, 13 percent were moderate, and 11 percent were severe with the most common symptoms being itching and headaches.
Average time spent using electronic devices increased to 5 hours per day for 36 percent of students due to online teaching or e-learning introduced during the pandemic after schools closed.
The risk of DES is considered to be significantly increased for those students who spend 4 to 5 hours a day on digital devices, based on several other studies, said Dr. Ankita, a pediatric ophthalmologist at RJ Sankara Eye Hospital. Which, he is one of the 12 super specialized ophthalmologists.
IS THERE A CURE?
If caught early, vision therapy can help prevent the progression of digital eye strain symptoms.