Journal of Ayurveda Physicians & Surgeons (JAPS)

(Peer Review International Journal) (EISSN 2394-6350)

Review Article
A Review on Effects of Electronic Gadgets on Eye
Naveeen Kumar Muniraju 1* Amarnath.H.K2 Ashwini .M.J3
1
Postgraduate Scholar,2Associate Professor Department of Shalalakya Tantra,3Ashwini.M.J Professor Department of
Shalakya Tantra, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara College of Ayurveda and Hospital BM Road ,Thaneeruhalla ,Hassan-
573201,Karnataka ,India
*Corresponding author: email address: dr.naveenkumar.m@gmail.com, Mob number-+919611832497
Access this article on online: www.japs.co.in
Published by International-Academy of Ayurveda-Physicians (IAAP),
7HB, Gandhinagar, Jamangar-361 002, Gujarat, India
Date of submission: 15-08-2017; Date of Revision: 20-08-2017; Date of Acceptance: 31-08-2017

ABSTRACT
Technology is an integral part of our daily life. Gadgets like smart phones, cell phones, laptops,
Tablets and iPods are used for communication, organization and employment which make life more
comfortable. Gadgets are useful to the mankind in many ways, if not used properly it will be harmful
to the eye. By following the preventive methods like eye exercise, 20-20-20 rule, maintaining proper
postures while using gadgets and along with effective intervention through Ayurvedic kriyakalpa
procedures we can prevent the ill effects of the gadgets. This paper highlights the Preventive measures
and creates awareness of the ill effects of gadgets.
KEY WORDS: Gadgets, Eye strain, Ayurveda, Suskakshipaka, Kriyakalpa, CVS and DES.

INTRODUCTION hours a day, with under 25-year-olds checking

A Gadget is a small tool such as a
machine/electronic device which is powered
by electronic principles; it has a particular
function, but is often thought of as a novelty.
We cannot imagine our life without smart
phones, cell phone, laptops, Tablets and iPod
which have firm hold on addiction on
children‟s and adults as well. While
technology is impressive, there are certain
drawbacks in areas like health, public safety
and education that should be addressed as
well. These gadgets are affecting the sense
organs and even affecting eyes in particular
leading to various life style disorders.
As per various survey studies it is found that
65 percent of the people spend between around
3 to 9 hours in front of monitors1 and. A study
in 2011 found Internet usage alone was
increased to 2.2 billion users when compared
to just 3 million users in 19902 and 60 million
children will use a computer or digital device
for multiple hours a day, which doesn‟t
include TV time or using a game system3.
Another survey of 2000 people commissioned
by a group of independent opticians found that
the average adult stares at a screen for seven
their phone 32 times a day.. In May 2016 a
new research implied that excessive
Smartphone use may lead to a rare form of
strabismus, or known as acute acquired
committing esotropia (AACE)‟
Effects of gadgets on eye
Effects of gadgets on eye can be seen as
Redness, Dryness, Blurring vision, Headache,
Neck, shoulder and back pain due to poor
posture. These above symptoms are found in
various life style disorders like Digital eye
strain, Dry eye syndrome, Computer vision
syndrome etc. Many individuals experience
eye discomfort and vision problems when
viewing digital screens for extended periods.
The level of discomfort appears to increase
with the amount of digital screen use.
HEV – High- energy visible / blue or violet
light are produced from the computer monitors
and can penetrate the macular pigment and
cause more rapid retinal changes.
These changes not only damage the retinal
structurally but can also decrease visual acuity.
The type of damage depends on the
wavelength, Frequency, and exposure time.4
Ultra violet rays may increase risk of cataract,
 Naveeen Kumar Muniraju, Amarnath H K Ashwini M J: A Review on Effects of Electronic Gadgets on Eye.
AMD and other eye disorders. Main sources of
UV rays are sun rays, welders flash and also
video display terminals like Computer
monitor, Tablets, Smart phones.
computer leads to dry eye
Normally a person blinks 12-18times/min but
while working on computer blink rate reduces
to 5-6times/min because of continuous staring
at the screen. Blinking is critically important
for spreading of the tears to form an even film
on the eye surface which keeps the cornea and
conjunctiva moist and also oxygen to the
corneal epithelium.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR
DIGITAL EYE STRAIN
Various measures to prevent digital eye strain
are as follows –
The monitor should be just inside arm‟s
length. Should sit approximately even with the
wrist with the arms extended straight out. The
monitor should also be slightly lower,
approximately 20 degrees below eye level.5
Use the digital device‟s accessibility features,
including increasing the font size, using zoom
features and choosing different fonts or
background colors. Because using digital
devices decreases blink rate, patients should
remind themselves to blink often while
working on a computer or other device.
Reduce screen brightness to the level that
doesn‟t hurt your eyes.
The 20-20-20 rule for computer use is
beneficial in decreasing eye strain. Every 20
minutes, take a 20 second break and look at
something at least 20 feet away1
Eye Exercises –
Palming - Sit comfortably on a chair. Rub
your hands together until they feel warm.
Close the eyes and cover them lightly with
cupped palms. Avoid applying pressure to the
eyeballs.
Take deep breaths slowly and evenly remove
palms from the eyes. repeat the palming for 3
minutes or more.
Make a figure 8 - with your eyes. This is a
great exercise to practice controlling the
physical movement of your eyes. Practice
rhythmic eye movements. These movements
can help to strengthen your eyes and your hand
eye coordination Do directional eye exercises.
Moving your eyes in different directions is a
good way to exercise your eyes.
Hot and cold compress: Soak one towel in hot
water, and the other in cold. Take one and
lightly press it to your face, focusing on the
eyebrows, closed eye lids, and cheeks
.alternate between the two as desired , making
sure to end with cold compress.
Eye wash: Take 2 cups full of prescribed
Triphala Kashaya .Dip your eyes in the cup
and blink the eyes slowly and steadily 10-15
times .Repeat the same procedure for five
times, each with fresh Kashaya.
AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE
Ocular complaints can be broadly classified in
to visual symptoms and non- visual symptoms,
visual symptoms generally can be correlated to
TIMIRA Lakshanas .Non visual complaints
generally correlated to Sushkakshipaka having
symptoms like excessive burning sensation,
pricking and cutting type of pain, difficulty in
eye lid movements. These Symptoms can be
correlated to Dry eye syndrome These Can be
managed effectively through KRIYAKALPA
PROCEDURES Like Seka, Aschotana, Pindi,
Tarpana, Putapaka, Abhyanga-shiroabhyanga,
padabhyanga, Nethraabhyanga, Nasya .
The word „Kriya “means Therapeutic Action
and “Kalpana” means specific formulations.
Kriyakalpa is a Bahiparimarjana chikitsa
(external/local application) and has several
advantages over oral administration. The oral
drugs find it difficult to cross blood-aqueous,
blood–vitreous and blood retinal barriers to
reach the target tissues of eye. The topical
drugs can reach there and achieve higher bio-
availability. The tissue contact time of the
drugs can be controlled in Kriya Kalpa.
The Medications can be judiciously selected
i.e. to increase Usna or Sita, Snigdha or
Ruksha in the local area.8
DISCUSSION
Dry eye /computervision syndrome is caused
due to Defective blinking such as low blink
rate as seen in prolonged computer users
leading to evaporative type of dry eye.6
 Naveeen Kumar Muniraju, Amarnath H K Ashwini M J: A Review on Effects of Electronic Gadgets on Eye.

By following proper posture reduces the eye parivarjanam”7While technology is

strain and prevents neck ,shoulder and back impressive, there are certain drawbacks in
pain. areas like health, public safety and education
By following the 20-20-20 rule reduces that should be addressed as well. Being aware
asthenopia and prevents evaporative dry eye. of these dangers can help diminish or reverse
Eye exercise like palming helps to soothes these negative effects of gadgets we use
eyes strained by an effort to see gives BIBILOGRAPHY
relaxation out of all exercise.
1. Sikes,OD. How digital devices are affecting vision
Hot and cold compresses to eyes improves the [Internet].Optometry times.2014[cited 2 August
circulation of the blood relieves pain in 2016].Available from:
eyes.hot and cold sensation relaxes the nerve http://www.thevisioncouncil.org/consumers/media/Researc
that can trigger the pain signal to the brain. hReports/des2014/TVCDigitEYEzedReport2013.pdf.
2. Newsroom [Internet]. News.essilorusa.com. 2018 [cited 1
Figure 8 eye exercise improves Vision while
January 2014]. Available from:
providing the additional benefit of relieving http://news.essilorusa.com//detail/dependence-on-digital-
stress and tension in the eyes. devices-affects-vision
Seka and Aschotana are indicated in 3. Protecting Kids from Computer Vision
Garsha(foreign body sensation) Daha (Burning Syndrome[Interne].Vsp.com.2014[cited January 2014]
Available from:http://www.vsp.com/eye-strain.html.
) Raga (redness) and.Tarpana is indicated in
4. Ultra-violet and Blue Light Worsen Macular Degeneration
Ruksa, Prisuska, Ati Visuska ,Suskaksipaka - AMDF [Internet]. American Macular Degeneration
(Dry eye conditions).Tarpana does the Foundation. 2014 [cited 1 January 2014]. Available from:
Santarpana/Bhrumana Chikitsa ( nourishment https://www.macular.org/ultra-violet-and-blue-light.
to the eyes ) and the drug used will be Ghritha 5. Computer Vision Syndrome [Internet]. Aoa.org. 2014
[cited 1 January 2014]. Available from:
which is having SNIGDATA ,KLEDATVA( http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-
unctuousness) which lubricates and reduces vision/protecting-your-vision/computer-vision-
Dry eye. syndrome?sso=y
By following the above preventive measures 6. Khurana A. comphrehensive ophthalmology. 5th ed. New
Delhi: New age International(p) Limited; 2012.
and in severe cases intervention through
7. Murthy S.Susrutha samitha.1st ed. Varanasi:Chaukhambha
Ayurvedic Kriya Kalpa procedures like Seka Orientalia;2012
,Aschotana,Tarpana etc One can effectively 8. Shankar U. Salakya Tantra. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Visva
Manage the ill effects of electronic Gadgets. Bharati,Varanasi; 2015.
CONCLUSION:
Cite this article as: Naveeen Kumar Muniraju,
Gadgets have become part and parcel of our
Amarnath HK, Ashwini MJ: A Review on Effects
life style we have to cautiously use these
of Electronic Gadgets on Eye. Journal of Ayurveda
gadgets and prevent the manifestation of Physicians and Surgeons. 2018;5 (1):34-36.
diseases. “Sankshepat kriya yogo Nidana

Conflict of Interest: Not declared .