RISE IN CASES OF MATURE CATARACT & DRY EYES DURING PANDEMIC.

 The ongoing pandemic has led to increased severity & morbidity

eye conditions of people in Bengaluru due to delayed treatment

and lifestyle changes.There are more cases of mature cataracts 

in elderly people compared with the period before the pandemic.

Incidence of severe dry eyes has also risen due to people spending

more time glued to digital screens.

Dr.Ram Mirlay,Regional Head - Clinical Services,Dr.Agarwals

Eye Hospital,Bengaluru, said," In the last three months of 2019,

before the pandemic had hit fully,just 10% of all cataract patients

coming to our hospital were suffering from mature cataract.In the

last quarter of 2020,this figure jumped to 50%,a five old increase."

Dr.Archana S Regional Head-Clinical Services, Dr.Agarwals Eye

Hospital said, " Cases of severe dry eyes due to digital eye strain

jumped from 10% before the pandemic to 30% now, as working

from home led to loss of work-life balance & 
people got used 

to looking at digital screens for long hours.Those working on

digital screens blink much less than normal,and even the blinks

are not fully complete.This coupled with glare & flickering of

screens,has led to big spike in incidence of digital eye strain 

and dry eyes.Hence,to give relief to the eyes,the rule is that for

every 20 minutes of computer work,you should look away for

20 seconds to objects atleast 20 feet away,or better still,look

out of the window".