Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, March 28
Most of the children these days are adept at operating tablets and mobile phones, but extensive use of such gadgets is not good for their eyes.
“Electronic gadgets such as mobile phones and computers are the main cause of eye problems in children. The fluid/water present in eyes starts drying due to overuse of these gadgets, leads to dryness of eyes and affects vision,” said Dr Simmi Aggarwal, an eye specialist.
She said eye problems would be at peak in the coming two years in India.
“People don’t take eye problems seriously. It’s like a silent killer which may lead to blindness slowly, if ignored. Parents should not allow overuse of computers and cellphones,” she said. “With all gadgets children use these days, what we notice is that more and more children have dry eyes, which was unheard of before. They get red eyes, blink a lot or get teary eyed. Out of 10 children (aged three and above), about half of them have dry eyes. Using gadgets for a long time can dry cornea. If it dries, one can experience a lot of discomfort,” said another city-based eye specialist Dr Dhamija.