Hyderabad: Children below five years of age are given smart phones by their parents so that they remain occupied but they fail to realise that it might make them cross-eyed and squint.
Ophthalmologist Dr Narahari Y. said, “Children hold the smartphones at a distance of eight to 12 inches from their face. Their eye alignment is affected as it is not at the same level. The moving pictures and constant light emitted from the smartphones amazes the children, but their bodies are still developing and it tends to have adverse effects on them.”
The blue light from smart phones can be harmful as it is the highest energy wavelength of visible light. This energy is capable of penetrating all the way to the back of the eye through the natural filters, possibly leading to retinal damage.
Dr Shubhra Goel, consultant ophthalmologist at Apollo Hospitals said, “Research has found that blue light has shorter wave lengths, higher frequency and higher energy. Blue light waves are found to create flickering and glaring effect on the eyes. This is one of the major reasons why prolonged exposure to computers, television and smart phones causes strain to the eyes, headaches or fatigue.”
Researchers also believe that prolonged exposure to blue light emitted from devices can cause retinal damage and contribute to age-related muscular degeneration and lead to loss of vision. The cases of eye strain and fatigue are indirect in nature and parents only come to the clinic once they realise that the child can’t see properly or is not looking straight.
Senior ophthalmologist Dr K. Rao said, “Parents first go to general physicians with complaints of headaches. They then come to the eye-doctors for check-up. These can be corrected by weaning the child off the smart phone but it becomes a major task as the child is already addicted to it.”
Tech addiction in kids can’t be controlled: Doctors
In the backdrop of some schools asking children as young as two years to use tablets, the medical fraternity has warned about adverse impact of electronic devices usage, especially by kids in Class V or younger.
Dr Dasari Ramesh, consultant paediatrician at Star Hospitals, said that kids cannot be controlled if they become addicted to tablets or cell phones. “Due to excessive time spent on tablets, refractive errors in eyes are witnessed. Kids will have concentration problems; less interaction with other children of their age will also affect language skills. Also, minimal outdoor activity is leading to obesity problems,” he warned.
