Nowadays the habit of watching reel on social media is growing rapidly, especially on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Tickets and Facebook. Although this may be a means of entertainment for some time, experts say that this habit is gradually becoming a serious threat to eyes and mental health.
In the joint meeting of the Asia Pacific Academy of Opthalmology (APAO) and All India Opthalmological Society (AIOS) held at the Yashobhoomi India International Convention and Expo Center in Delhi, prominent ophthalmologists from India and abroad issued a warning on the subject.
Digital Eye Strain: A Silence Epidemble
Dr. Lalit Verma, APAO 2025 Congress President said that problems such as the habit of spending time on the screen, especially reels, dry vision among children and youth, near vision, eyes, pressure and even early bickering are being seen. He called it a “silent epidemic of Digital Eye Strain”.
Sharing an example, he said that recently a student reached him with a problem of eye irritation and blurred vision. Investigation revealed that the moisture of his eyes had reduced due to continuous reel.
20-20-20 rule advice
Dr. Verma advised everyone to adopt 20-20-20 rules, in which every 20-minute screen should be seen 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives rest to the eyes and reduces stress.
Design of reels and effects on eyes
The chairman of Dr. Harbans Lal, AIOS stated that the reels have been designed in such a way that they draw attention and keep people connected to the screen for a long time. This reduces the rate of blinking eyelids by 50 percent, which causes dryness in the eyes and acomodation spasm (troubles in the focus between near-sight and distant vision).
He warned that if this habit is not controlled in time, it can also cause permanent problems related to vision.
Rate of rising proximity
According to Dr. Lal, the proximity in young children is growing faster than before. Due to continuous screen exposure, now the number of glasses is being seen repeatedly by the age of 30, while earlier this problem was limited to the age of 21 years.
Social and mental influence
Dr. Samar Basak, AIOS President also highlighted the social and psychological influence of this habit. He said that many people are so immersed in the reels that they start ignoring real -life relations. This affects family relationships and also reduces concentration in work or studies.
The future president of Dr. Parth Biswas, AIOS said that artificial light, acute visual change and prolonged items focusing on the objects are highly pressurized, which he has named ‘Reel Vision Syndrome’.
What to do: Experts advice
-
Follow the 20-20-20 rule.
-
Try to blink the eyelid more often while watching the screen.
-
Limit screen time, especially for children.
-
Take a few minutes break every hour.
-
Drink enough water to keep the eyes moist and take eye medicine if necessary.
-
Use anti-glare glasses to protect against blue light.
I am the son of a worker, I will resign if the allegations are proved: Kharge targeted Anurag Thakur
The post Health Alert: How is the habit of watching the reel constantly seeing your eyes first appeared on News India Live | Breaking India News, The Indian Headline, India Express News, Fast India News.
