Dry eye disease on the rise in digital era; Pristine launches dedicated facility in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Once considered an age-related concern, Dry Eye Disease (DED) is increasingly affecting younger populations, particularly tech professionals and teenagers, due to prolonged screen exposure.

Addressing what it terms a ‘digital-age health crisis,’ Pristine Eye Hospitals announced the upcoming launch of Hyderabad’s first dedicated Centre of Excellence for Dry Eye, located near Raidurgam Metro Station, opposite Raheja Mindspace.

The Centre will be inaugurated on July 30 by Jayesh Ranjan, special chief secretary, Telangana, as disclosed by Dr C Jagadesh Reddy, Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgeon and founder of Pristine Eye Hospitals, during a press conference held at Pristine’s Madhapur branch.

Dry eye in the digital age

“Dry Eye is no longer an age-related condition; it is now rampant among screen users,” said Dr Reddy. He emphasised that excessive screen time has transformed dry eye into a lifestyle epidemic, particularly among those in urban, tech-driven environments.

“We are no longer dealing with a simple eye issue; dry eye is now a digital-age health crisis,” he added.

According to recent observations shared by Dr. Reddy:

- 70% of IT professionals report symptoms of Dry Eye.

- 40% of urban teenagers show signs of the condition.

- 1 in 3 tech workers suffer from moderate to severe DED.

- Teenagers using screens for over 4 hours per day are twice as likely to develop Dry Eye symptoms.

Hyderabad’s first centre for dry eye care

The Centre of Excellence for Dry Eye is designed as a comprehensive facility offering diagnostics, treatment, prevention, and wellness support under one roof. It features:

- World-Class Diagnostics: Tear Film Analyser, Meibography, LipiView® Imaging

- Advanced Therapies: LipiFlow®, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), BlephEx™, MeiboFlow®, and Punctal Plugs

- Personalised Eye Wellness Programs: Tailored for IT professionals, teenagers, and senior citizens

- Corporate Wellness Packages: Designed to address screen-related eye strain in workplace settings

“From work to entertainment, education to social interaction, our lives revolve around various devices and screens. We’re blinking less, straining more, and ignoring the silent suffering of our eyes,” said Dr Reddy.

He described the trend as a ‘Blink Crisis’, warning that reduced blinking, by up to 60 per cent during screen use, combined with prolonged exposure to air-conditioned indoor environments, poor posture and contact lens overuse, are major contributors to the condition.

Public awareness campaign: ‘blink break’

Coinciding with the Centre’s launch, the Pristine Vision Foundation, the hospital’s non-profit arm, is initiating a city-wide awareness campaign titled “Blink Break.”

The campaign promotes:

- The 20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

- The Dry Eye Self-Test (OSDI) is available on the Pristine Eye Hospitals website.

- Preventive screening and timely intervention before symptoms become severe.

The Foundation also plans to offer free screening and treatment in underserved communities through outreach camps and mobile eye clinics.

A call for screen mindfulness

“Dry Eye isn’t just a medical condition anymore, it’s a modern lifestyle disorder. Techies and screenagers alike must become more mindful,” Dr Reddy stated.

He concluded with a clear message: “Our Centre is just the beginning, our goal is to spark a larger shift toward eye wellness in a screen-dominated world. It is not about screen time, but about screen mindfulness.”

What You Should Know

Common causes of Dry Eye:

- Reduced blinking during screen use

- Prolonged exposure to air-conditioned environments

- Poor sitting posture and ergonomics

- Extended contact lens usage

Complications if untreated:

- Chronic eye discomfort

- Corneal damage

- Higher risk of eye infections