Lucknow: Excessive mobile phone use is increasingly being identified as a major factor behind the rising number of children developing squint (strabismus), doctors at KGMU said on Saturday.Prof Siddharth Agrawal from the department of ophthalmology said the cases have risen after the Covid-19 pandemic. “In many ophthalmology OPDs, we now see at least two children every day with symptoms of squint. The common factor is prolonged screen exposure. When children focus continuously on a mobile screen from a very close distance, the eye muscles remain in a constant state of contraction. Over time, this can disturb coordination between the two eyes, leading to deviation,” he said during a CME in the department, adding this was observed mostly in children below 6 years of age.He added that scientific studies on digital eye strain show that children using screens for several hours daily blink less, experience fatigue of the extra-ocular muscles, and develop convergence stress —conditions known to increase the risk of squint and other focusing disorders.Head of the department, Prof Apjit Kaur explained the physiological mechanism. “The eyes are designed to frequently shift focus between near and distant objects. Continuous viewing of a small screen forces the focusing muscles to work without relaxation. This prolonged strain can weaken binocular coordination, and in some children the eyes gradually turn inward or outward, which is clinically recognised as strabismus,” she said.She noted that international paediatric ophthalmology guidelines recommend avoiding mobile use altogether in children below three years and strictly limiting screen time in older children because their visual system is still developing and more vulnerable to strain.Doctors also cautioned that squint is not only a cosmetic issue but can affect vision and psychological wellbeing. “If untreated, squint can lead to amblyopia or ‘lazy eye’, where the brain begins to ignore signals from one eye, causing permanent vision loss. Children may also suffer from low confidence and social difficulties,” said senior ophthalmologist Prof Vineeta Singh.Dr Latika Tandon said early diagnosis can prevent complications. “If detected in time, treatment such as corrective glasses, eye exercises, or patch therapy can improve alignment. Surgery is required only in advanced cases,” she said, advising parents to watch for warning signs such as one eye drifting, frequent eye rubbing, or complaints of double vision.Experts stressed that prevention remains the best strategy. Parents should limit screen time, ensure proper lighting, encourage outdoor play, and maintain a viewing distance of at least 30-40 cm when children use digital devices.
