Affiliation:
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Apollo Multispeciality Hospital Limited, Kolkata, West Bengal, India,
Abstract
Digital eye strain (DES) has increased over time due to excessive use of digital devices by school going children and young adults working online from home, due to COVID-19 pandemic. Prolonged screen time impacts their wellness, which produces stress on visual and musculoskeletal system, in addition to circadian rhythm disturbances. Symptoms of dry eyes, eye pain, redness, watering of eyes, burning/itching sensation in eyes, blurred vision, headache, and poor quality of sleep are some of the common problems faced by the affected individuals. Recommendations to alleviate DES include creating an optimal environment while working on digital devices, taking frequent breaks, and limiting daily screen time. Preventive measures can be taken by counseling/public awareness initiated by ophthalmologists/eye healthcare workers and sensitization of teachers and parents so that timely action can prevent the children from getting adversely affected.