By Nayak Paudel

Morang, May 4: Since March 24, when the government imposed nationwide lockdown, people have been staying indoors with their eyes constantly on electronic gadgets.
With movement restricted other than for essential services, the trend of watching television and using mobile phones has increased than earlier.
“The children used to have less time for mobile phone and television when the educational institutions weren’t shut down. But with schools and colleges closed, they are home throughout the day with either mobile or television in front of their eyes most of the time,” said Menuka Basnet, a mother of two from Pathari Shanishchare Municipality.
Eye problems have been a serious issue across the globe due to excessive watching of television and use of mobile phones, and with people relying on electronic gadgets more during the lockdown than the earlier days, health experts have said it had increased the risk of eye problems.
Computer Vision Syndrome - a group of eye and vision-related problems due to prolonged use of computer, mobile phone, television, tablet and laptop among other electronic gadgets – is what people suffer from due to excessive looking at the screen of gadgets, ophthalmologists said.
Eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes and pain in the neck and shoulder are the common symptoms associated with Computer Vision Syndrome.
“When people look at screen of gadgets continuously, the blink rate decreases and causes dryness in the eyes. The eyes suffer from strain, there is irritation in the eyes and people also suffer from headache. It happens to people of every age group,” said Dr Archana Sharma, ophthalmologist at Nepal Eye Hospital.
From children to adults and elderly, electronic gadgets are what keeping them occupied during the lockdown as they have been restricted to go out from their houses.
From online games to streaming of movies, series and TV shows, it is where people are engaging themselves throughout the day.
However, ophthalmo-logists suggest people to engage themselves in other activities rather than constant viewing of gadget screen.
“Due to work from home and the increasing trend of online classes, people are bound to stay in front of the screen other than for recreation.
However, after completing the work or classes, individuals return to the screen for recreation. This continuity of viewing the screen of gadgets does affect the health of the eyes,” said Dr Reeta Gurung, chief executive officer and ophthalmologist at Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology.
According to eye doctors, people should utilise the time at home by engaging each other in productive activities.
“Parents often used to be busy earlier due to which children also needed to engage themselves by means of mobile phone and television. But now since parents are free and are indoors with their children, they need to engage the children in other fruitful activities,” said Dr Sharma.
The parents can teach their children to cook, plant flowers or vegetables and play different board and indoor games with their children in the lockdown period while they have enough time to spend with their family members, say doctors.