Rumor:
Not long ago, Mr. Wei, a 27-year-old from Fuzhou, became blind in his right eye due to retinal detachment. After three weeks of hospital treatment, his vision recovered to 0.3. The cause may be related to running an online store for several years—working on the computer for over ten hours a day, sometimes exceeding twenty hours during busy periods. At first, he simply felt discomfort in his eyes, which then progressed to blurred vision, and eventually, complete blindness in the right eye. After this case was reported by the media, many netizens exclaimed: “Using computers for work and entertainment is common these days—does that mean everyone will get retinal detachment?”
Clarification:
In fact, retinal detachment is not necessarily directly caused by prolonged computer use, but there is an indirect connection. Such conditions are typically seen in middle-aged and elderly people, and are relatively rare among younger individuals.
Objects appear in our vision because their images land on the retina, much like how a camera focuses light onto film. The retina converts the focused image into nerve impulses, which are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve, allowing us to see what’s in front of us.
Retinal detachment means the “film” has a problem—the image sent from the eye to the brain is missing or incomplete. This happens when the neurosensory layer of the retina completely or partially separates from the retinal pigment epithelium.
Computers and mobile phones are indispensable parts of modern urban life, used for both work and entertainment. Especially among young people, it’s common to spend up to eight hours a day on them. This can lead to eye strain, and there have already been cases where primary school students under 10 years old experienced retinal detachment due to such overuse. Many are also obsessed with social media, rarely parting with their phones. The small screen size limits text and visuals to a very confined area, which makes eye fatigue more likely. All these factors pose hidden risks to eye health.
Generally speaking, the occurrence of retinal detachment and other fundus diseases is mostly related to pre-existing conditions in the patient’s fundus, such as high myopia, having had cataract surgery, or previous eye injuries—all of which are major contributors to retinal detachment.
Before retinal detachment occurs, there are often warning signs, such as foggy shadows in the field of vision, expanding dark spots, or persistent flashes in one area. When these symptoms appear, it’s best to seek medical diagnosis promptly. If diagnosed with retinal detachment, timely surgical treatment is essential.
The first week after retinal detachment is the golden period for surgery; delaying too long can compromise the outcome, significantly impairing the restored vision. Other factors affecting surgery success include the location and extent of the detachment—for example, if it spreads to the macular area of the eye, vision recovery may be unsatisfactory.
Many patients who experience retinal detachment do not pay enough attention to postoperative care, quickly returning to long hours of internet use and mobile phone activity. This brings them back to a state of eye overuse, which could cause the retina to “malfunction” again. It’s best to balance work and rest, and attend regular follow-up checkups, as retinal detachment is a condition with a relatively high recurrence rate.
Additionally, many view this type of surgery as minor, assuming they can go about their lives without precautions after discharge. In reality, post-discharge care is still crucial. For example, avoid scratching or shaking your head forcefully when washing your hair, as this could lead to another detachment. It is recommended that postoperative patients wash their hair while lying flat. Sometimes even sneezing can cause surgical failure—when you feel a sneeze coming on, pressing the tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth can help prevent it.
Moreover, people with high myopia are advised not to try extreme sports like bungee jumping. Myopic patients have elongated eye axes and liquefied vitreous humor, which weakens support for the retina. Under the weightless conditions of bungee jumping, retinal detachment—and potential blindness—can occur. Particularly for those with myopia exceeding 600 degrees, sudden changes in body speed make retinal detachment even more likely.