Pune: Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown led closure of schools but boosted the education system virtually. Though, the teaching skills has gone digital but its effects on the human body is now area of concern to be looked at.

The use of mobiles for online education learning systems has led to a rapid increase in the number of children patients facing ‘Myopia’ which shows symptoms of hazy, blurred vision, unclear vision among the children as well as in the people working from home especially those workforce using laptops for their work.

WHAT IS MYOPIA

Myopia is a visual impairment that involves changes in the function of the eye in distant objects. This disease is caused due to weakening of eye muscles. Adults with myopia have symptoms such as blurred vision, headaches, and difficulty seeing objects at night, while children may blink or rub their eyes frequently.

Myopia is an eye defect. In this the patient manages to see the closure vision but face difficulty to spot far sight appearances. An object cannot be seen clearly unless it is brought close to the eye. If it is far away, it looks dim.

WHAT EXPERTS SAY

Ophthalmologist Dr Hemant Todkar, said, “At present, due to physical reasons four out of 100 people are diagnosed with this ailment while 12 out of 100 cases people are diagnosed with myopia due to the extra usage of screen during the pandemic. It is important to make a balanced lifestyle and decide how much the gadget should be used by children, including adults. While in a few cases, doctors recommend surgery depending on the seriousness of the problem.”

With the increasing use of electronic devices like mobiles, laptops, computers, iPads, children in the city, people those who are working from home especially the IT employees are more likely to develop this aliment Myopia. Often using a mobile phone or gadget at an early age, it is easy to see nearby objects. But, far from seeing anything, such problems are now on the rise.

Another Ophthalmologist Dr Anil Dudhbhate, said, “Online study as well as spending too much time on mobiles and laptops has increased myopia in children. Every day, three to five out of 25 patients are diagnosed with this type and most of them are children. The use of electronic items should be limited to prevent this disorder. The distance of these objects from the eyes should be placed correctly.”

HOW TO GET RID OF IT

· Limit mobile phone usage.

· Do Eye exercise.

· Do not work continuously, while working on electronic devices.

· Frequent blink eyes.

· Running, walking and doing yoga can be beneficial.

· Go for regular eye check-up and choose the right glasses or lenses.

· Eat leafy vegetables and carrots.