Dubbed “Lunar New Year mobile phone syndrome,” the condition commonly occurs during or after the holiday because of people staring at their screen for hours, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital ophthalmologist Chen Ying-shan (陳瑩山) said. Excessive use of technological devices can lead to dry eyes, as well as put a strain on the ciliary muscles, which help the eyes automatically adjust to short and long-range vision,Chen said. Chen cited as an example the case of a 46-year-old woman, who complained of worsening eye problems, such as dry eyes and impaired vision after the holiday, especially when she tried to look at things right after using her phone. This is a case of pseudomyopia, meaning the extended periods of eye use during the holiday caused a refractive error that damaged the patient’s vision, Chen said. People should eat more green and yellow vegetables during the holiday, and take a 10-minute break after every 30 minutes of phone use, with the total amount of time not exceeding one hour to protect their eyes, he said.

Source: Taipei Times January 24, 2020 15:56 UTC