Dr. Priyarthi Pradhan

DR.JANANI RAJENDRAN, DR. RUPA A., DR. SHASHIKANT SHETHY

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has brought multiple ocular problems in pediatric population.Our study reports a series of acute acquired concomitant esotropia which developed following excessive use of digital device.We retrospectively analyzed 18 patients, aged between 3-21 years with recent onset esotropia, who presented between July 2020 and July 2021 at a tertiary eye care hospital.14 children complained of diplopia. Mean age was 11.3 ± 5.2 years.Only two were females. Mean duration of use of smartphone was 8.2 ±2.7 hours. The average angle of deviation for near and distance was 38.4 ± 13 PD and 35.6 ± 10.8 PD. Systemic evaluation and MRI Brain were normal in all children. All patients were started on alternate eye patching. 12 patients underwent surgical correction and achieved successful alignment at one month post operatively. Parents should be educated about the drawback of prolonged use of smartphone by their children and ensure restricted usage of the devices.