“Mom, please stop — you’ll burn your eyes”: Warning of blindness risk from phone use in dark rooms
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Ophthalmologists warn that using a smartphone in a dark room before sleep can seriously damage the retina and optic nerve, even raising the risk of blindness. In darkness pupils dilate up to three times, letting in roughly nine times more light by area; unfiltered blue light can trigger oxidative stress in retinal cells, accelerating macular degeneration and nerve cell death. Middle-aged and older women may face higher danger because narrow anterior eye anatomy plus forward lens shift when looking down at a phone can block fluid outflow, causing sudden intraocular pressure spikes and acute glaucoma. Eye massage devices and vigorous rubbing also risk sharply increasing pressure or transmitting vibrations that damage lens-supporting fibers. Experts advise keeping bright ambient lighting, avoiding phone use before bed, limiting prolonged near work, and maintaining eye-healthy habits (e.g., omega-3 intake, antioxidant-rich foods like carrots and sesame leaves, sunglasses or wide-brim hats).
