By Nazir Ganaie,Agence India Press,
Srinagar: Ophthalmologists in Kashmir have warned of serious eye-related diseases on the Valleyties caused by prolonged use of computers by the urban youth. Experts said that Computer Vision Syndrome is on tremendous increase across the valley as the unrest has limited the options other remaining busy with their computers.
“Prolonged use of computers and other electronic devices combined with severe climatic changes in the valley have drastically taken toll on people in the valley particularly children are the soft targets,” former head of the department Ophthalmology, SMHS, Dr Bashir Ahmed told Agence India Press.
The expert raised concern over the growing number of people showing Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) — eye-related diseases.
More than four months long unrest in Indian Kashmir has made people to remain confine to their homes. The youngsters who have been active on social networking sites highlighting the atrocities of their own land have come to the limelight not from the side of Police but this time from doctors.
Elaborating, Dr Bashir who also runs his own eye care Clinic in the summer capital-Srinagar said that CVS is caused by decreased blinking reflex while working before computer screens.
“There is a tremendous increase of this disease among boys and children who spend most of their time on computer screens,” He said adding that the normal blink rate in human eyes is 16–20 a minute and studies have shown that the blink rate decreases to as low as 6–8 blinks a minute in persons working on computers.
“Students and other professionals have accepted the new trend of using computers for long time. Social networking has become a craze for the Kashmiri youth, which is proving detrimental for the eyes,” he said.
Talking about its symptoms, the expert said “fatigue and redness in eyes headache, blurred vision, neck pain, eye strain, dry irritated eyes and difficulty in refocusing the eyes are common in such patients.”
The Ophthalmologist also sought proper check on the diseases and role of teachers and parents in curbing over-usage of computers by children.
Talking about the avoidance of CVS, he said.
“After spending an hour on the computer screens the user should take a break for about 10 to 15 minutes then the user can again start working on the computer sets. Besides that some liquids could also be used by the user which keeps their eyes moist,” he said.
“There are certain exercises to avoid the attack of such disease. The user can use his palm to cover the eyes when he is working on the computer,” noted ophthalmologist added.
Meanwhile HoD Ophthalmology, SMHS, Dr Manzoor Qadri Kang told Agence India Press that the there has been an increase in such patients from couple of years back.
“These cases are showing an increasing trend, earlier we didn’t get these patients in our department.”
He said that the department does some awareness programmes to keep the users updated about the consequences of the growing disease. We have commissioned certain equipments that are under process which are also useful in faco-emulsification of patients,” Dr Kang said.
The valley has been on boil since June 11 after the death of a teenager Tufail Matoo. More than four month s long unrest in the valley has left 110 civilians dead at the hands of Indian forces.
Moreover the incessant curfews and restrictions across the valley have made people to remain restricted to their homes. Omar Abdulla led coalition government has failed to reach out to the angry youth .Observers here believes that the New Delhi has failed to deliver at the right time.