Shillong, Jun 24: An eye care specialist has issued an urgent warning for parents in Shillong after observing a sharp and unprecedented rise in vision problems among children and young adults between the ages of 6 and 20.
The trend is directly linked to prolonged and unregulated use of digital screens, according to Sonali Sangma, a practising optometrist and eye specialist, who said nearly 90 per cent of her daily patients in this age group come in with complaints tied to excessive screen time.
She said that instead of traditional vision issues, younger patients are increasingly reporting chronic headaches, severe eye strain and persistent dry eyes.
“A child who came in for a routine check-up was found to have a prescription of -4.00 diopters with astigmatism” the optometrist said. The condition, she explained, was largely worsened by constant, unmonitored mobile phone usage.
A power of -4.00 diopters indicates high myopia, or nearsightedness, while astigmatism means the cornea is irregularly shaped. Together, these require specific corrective lenses so light can focus properly on the retina for clear distance vision.
To reduce digital strain, Sangma recommended several practical habits that can be adopted daily. She stressed what she called the “golden screen rule” of switching off all digital screens at least one hour before sleeping.
“Using a phone in the dark severely disrupts both the sleep cycle and ocular health, she said.
She also suggested a “morning green routine” that involves spending three to five minutes looking at natural greenery or a green landscape soon after waking up. The colour green, she noted, is soothing and helps with retinal focus.
Another simple measure is “fresh water flashes,” or regularly splashing clean, cool water on the face to relieve strain.
Sangma advised maintaining a Vitamin A rich diet that includes carrots and leafy greens, which support eye health. She also urged routine eye examinations every six months to one year, even for those who do not currently wear glasses, because early detection can prevent more serious complications.
