Could excessive use of phone/tablet cause blindness?

Without doubt, the invention of smartphones and tablet has easy the stress in communicating and living. But, the effect of the excessive use of these gadgets cannot be disregarded.

A 26-year-old Chinese man risked going blind after suffering a retinal detachment as a result of excessive use of his smartphone texting his girlfriend constantly throughout the day and for several hours in the dark, in bed at night.

Retinal detachment happens when the thin lining at the back of a person's eye begins to pull away from the blood vessels that supply it with oxygen and nutrients.

The retina in his left eye began to detach from the back of his eye. The condition led to an emergency surgery. Without prompt treatment, he would have lost his eyesight.

The condition is usually common between the ages of 50 and 70, but scientists say the condition is now common among younger people and excessive use of smartphones and tablet is believed to be the fault. 

David Allamby, Founder of Focus Clinics, said there had been a 35 per cent increase in the number of people with advancing myopia (short sightedness) since the launch of smartphones in 1997.

An eye expert said it was possible for people to experience a retinal detachment as a result of excessive use of smartphones and tablet. Starring at these device for long can cause damage to the eyesight. 

Research shows that the blue violet light which comes from your tech device could be toxic to the nerves at the back of your eyes. A survey of 2,000 people shows that people under the age of 25 check their phone around 32 times within just one day and average adult spends almost 7 hours a day looking at screens.