Too much screen time has brought rise in eye infections and other sight problems during Covid-19 – how to avoid them
- A mum fears for her two sons’ eyesight because of the increased time they spend studying and playing online and watching TV during the Covid-19 crisis
- An eye doctor recommends we take regular breaks from staring at devices, blink often, and use eye drops to keep a condition called dry eye at bay
Stay-at-home mum Naomi was keeping a close watch on her two boys, one in primary school and the other in secondary, and particularly on their eyes.
She was concerned as they spent an increasing amount of time using digital devices after the coronavirus pandemic triggered class suspensions and the need to study online at home.
The Japanese native living in Hong Kong asked to remain anonymous so that other parents would not judge her harshly as they sometimes do on social media support groups in these trying times.
In the pre-coronavirus days, her sons went to school, played with friends outside and took part in extracurricular activities such as football. Neither wears eyeglasses, unlike Naomi, who is nearsighted. “They were online only for a few hours a day during those days,” she says.
