Spending hours watching reels harming Indian kids' eye health, warn experts

Leading ophthalmologists on Tuesday warned that they are witnessing a sharp increase in cases of dry eye syndrome myopia progression eye strain and even earlyonset squinting in children who spend hours watching reels on various social media platformsAfter raising the alarm bell about the impact of shortform videos on mental health doctors are now concerned about a new growing crisis mdash lsquoReelInduced Eye DamagersquoExcessive screen time particularly bingewatching reels on social media platforms like Instagram TikTok Facebook and YouTube is leading to a spike in eye disorders across all age groups especially among children and young adults said healthcare experts during the joint meeting of Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and All India Ophthalmological Society in the national capitalldquoA student recently visited us complaining of persistent eye irritation and blurry vision After examination we found his eyes were not producing enough tears due to prolonged screen time at home watching reelsrdquo said Dr Lalit Verma President Asia Pacific Academy of OphthalmologyldquoHe was immediately put on eye drops and advised to follow the 202020 rule mdash taking a 20second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet awayrdquo said VermaStudies show that an increasing number of people especially students and working professionals are struggling with digital eye strain squinting and worsening eyesight due to prolonged exposure to highspeed visually stimulating contentDoctors also note a troubling trend of social isolation mental fatigue and cognitive overload associated with constant reel consumptionDr Harbansh Lal Chairman of Organising committee and Past President of All India Ophthalmological Society AIOS explained the severity of the issue at the eventldquoShort engaging reels are designed to capture and hold attention for long periods However this constant screen fixation reduces blink rates by 50 per cent leading to dryeye syndrome and accommodation spasms difficulty in shifting focus between near and distant objectsrdquo he notedExperts warn that if this habit continues unchecked it could result in longterm vision problems and even permanent eye strainrdquoldquoChildren who are glued to reels for hours daily are at risk of developing early myopia which is progressing faster than ever before Adults too are experiencing frequent headaches migraines and sleep disorders caused by blue light exposurerdquo Dr Lal emphasisedStudies show that an increasing number of people especially students and working professionals are struggling with digital eye strain squinting and worsening eyesight due to prolonged exposure to highspeed visually stimulating content Doctors also note a troubling trend of social isolation mental fatigue and cognitive overload associated with constant reel consumptionDr Samar Basak President of AIOS and a senior ophthalmologist highlighted the social and psychological toll of excessive screen timeldquoWe are seeing a concerning pattern where people are so absorbed in reels that they neglect realworld interactions leading to strained family relationships and reduced focus on education and workrdquo he notedIncreasing blink rate and taking digital detoxes can help reduce dependency and prevent longterm eye damage experts suggestedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever