Can using mobile phones for a longer period cause visual problems?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 21-year-old male. Around a month ago, I experienced a burning sensation in my eyes, which prompted me to visit an eye doctor for a medical check-up. The results came back normal, and the doctor prescribed "Etralube" to alleviate the burning sensation. After a week, I felt better, but then I started noticing that white text on a black background appeared slightly stretched or blurry at times (mostly at night and only on mobile devices or TV screens; my vision was perfectly fine in real life). I returned to the doctor, but she assured me that it was normal. Last week, I began seeing floaters. I underwent another eye check-up two days ago, and once again, the results were normal, and the doctor did not prescribe any medication. The past two days were uneventful, but tonight, when I looked at my mobile after leaving it idle for a while, I noticed that a small white spray seemed to be added to wherever I looked on the screen (again, this was only on my mobile, as when I looked up and around, everything appeared normal). This lasted for about a minute or two and has now disappeared. I am currently staying in a hostel away from home and feeling quite scared. Please advise me on what I should do.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern. The symptoms you described are generally not a cause for worry. The reason for your problem can be a minor refractive error can result in a slight doubling or spreading of letters. Momentary dryness can also contribute to these symptoms. Dryness tends to increase when we spend extended periods staring at screens as our blink rate decreases. To alleviate this, you can use lubricating eye drops whenever you read on your phone or tablet. I hope this helps. Thank you and take care. Regards.

Can using mobile phones for a longer period cause visual problems?

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Company

Customer Care

Get iCliniq