Pristine Eye Hospitals launches dedicated centre for dry eye disease, which is fast emerging as a digital-age health crisis.
HYDERABAD, July 27 (The CONNECT)— Dry Eye Disease (DED) is no longer an age-related condition, but rampant among screen users, a top doctor has warned.
DED is now emerging as a widespread lifestyle disorder among tech professionals and teenagers due to excessive screen use, said Dr. C. Jagadesh Reddy, Cornea, Cataract & Refractive Surgeon and Founder of Pristine Eye Hospitals.
“We are no longer dealing with a simple eye issue. Dry eye is now a digital-age health crisis,” He said.
Recent studies show that 70% of IT professionals and 40% of urban teenagers report Dry Eye symptoms. One in 3 tech workers suffer from moderate to severe Dry Eye. Teenagers using screens for over 4 hours/day are twice as likely to develop DED.
“From work to entertainment, education to social interaction—our lives revolve around various devices and screens,” Dr. Reddy said. “We’re blinking less, straining more, and ignoring the silent suffering of our eyes,” he observed.
Dry Eye Disease is underdiagnosed, often self-treated with OTC drops, or completely ignored. If it is left untreated, it can lead to chronic discomfort, corneal damage, and infections.
With growing concern over excessive screen time and its impact on eye health, Pristine Eye Hospitals will soon launch the city’s first dedicated Centre of Excellence for Dry Eye, a state-of-the-art facility designed to address what Dr. Reddy calls a “lifestyle epidemic.”
The Centre will be formally inaugurated on July 30 by Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, Telangana.
Located in the IT Hub of the city near Rayadurgam Metro Station, opposite Raheja Mindspace, the new Centre of Excellence for Dry Eye is equipped with World-Class Diagnostics: Tear Film Analyzer, Meibography, LipiView Imaging; Advanced Therapies- LipiFlow, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), BlephEx™, MeiboFlow, and Punctal Plugs; Personalized Eye Wellness Programmes.
Dr Reddy observed the condition as the Blink Crisis, which is putting Screenagers & Techies at Risk
Pristine Vision Foundation, the hospital’s non-profit arm, will also roll out the “Blink Break” campaign to promote digital eye health and early detection.
The campaign encourages the 20-20-20 Rule, according to which it is suggested that every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. People can do the Dry Eye Self-Test (OSDI) via the Pristine website. The campaign creates the need for preventive screening before symptoms worsen.
The Common causes for dry according to the experts, are due to reduced blinking (up to 60%) while using screens, prolonged air-conditioned indoor environments and poor ergonomics, posture, and prolonged contact lens use
The Foundation will also extend screening and care to underserved communities through outreach camps and mobile clinics, aiming for a future where no one loses vision due to preventable conditions.
“Dry Eye isn’t just a medical condition anymore—it’s a modern lifestyle disorder. Techies and ‘screenagers alike must become more mindful,” emphasised Dr. Reddy. “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 the screen time, but it is about screen mindfulness, he said.
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