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Beritasatu.com/Hendro D Situmorang
Understanding Dry Eye Disorders Triggered By Lifestyle Changes In The Digital Age
Wednesday, 26 Feb 2025
The transformation of lifestyle in the digital age, characterized by an increasing prevalence of electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, and televisions, has a significant impact on eye health. This is particularly evident in the rising duration of screen time that individuals are exposed to daily.
On average, Indonesians spend approximately 7 hours and 38 minutes each day in front of screens, which leads to a decrease in the frequency of blinking and results in dry eye conditions.
This phenomenon, known as dry eye syndrome, can cause damage to the eye's surface if not addressed appropriately, ranging from mild to permanent issues.
Dr. Nina Asrini Noor, SpM, the head of the Dry Eye Service at JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics, has noted a continuous increase in dry eye disorders, particularly because many individuals are unaware of their symptoms
This condition can arise from prolonged screen exposure as well as external factors such as pollution and air conditioning.
"The number of individuals suffering from dry eye is expected to rise, as many do not realize they are experiencing this condition," she stated during the launch of the JEC Dry Eye Service at RS Mata JEC @ Kedoya, West Jakarta, recently.
According to the 2024 report from Backlinko on average screen time statistics, the average screen time for Indonesians is 7 hours and 38 minutes per day
In addition to excessive screen time, external factors such as air conditioning and air pollution further exacerbate eye conditions.
Data from the Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association (PERDAMI) indicates that the global prevalence of dry eye ranges from 5 percent to 50 percent, with Southeast Asia reporting figures between 20 percent and 52.4 percent.
In Indonesia, the prevalence of dry eye is recorded at 27.5 percent.
"At JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics alone, we have received over 72,000 patient visits with complaints of dry eye in the past two years (2023–2024)," Nina added.
