Excessive screen use in children linked to dry eye syndrome

Excessive use of smartphones and tablets among children and adolescents is leading to an increase in cases of dry eye syndrome. During the 70th Brazilian Congress of Ophthalmology in Salvador, ophthalmologist Ana Paula Silverio explained that prolonged screen time reduces the involuntary frequency of blinking. This reduction causes tears to evaporate more quickly, resulting in inadequate lubrication of the ocular surface.

Symptoms of this condition include a gritty sensation in the eyes, burning, itching, redness, and blurred vision. Silverio noted that the risk is particularly high for adolescents, who often use small smartphone screens for extended periods, frequently in poorly lit environments like bedrooms. This trend is driven by a combination of digital studies in schools and recreational screen use at home.