Cell Phone Blindness: When You Temporarily Lose Vision After Checking Your Phone in a Dark Room

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Cell phone blindness refers to when one temporarily loses vision in both or one eye after looking at their phone in a room that is dark.

The phenomenon may happen if a pillow or other object would block the eye.

Cell Phone Blindness

Cell phone blindness, or transient smartphone blindness, first scientifically appeared in a 2016 study.

While the phenomenon is not serious, some individuals could find vision changes concerning if they do not know the cause of such a phenomenon. Vision loss apparently returns to normal within a couple of minutes. There is also no evidence that it leads to chronic damage.

Cell phone blindness typically happens when one looks at the bright screen of a smartphone in a dark room when one eye gets covered by a pillow or other object. It is believed to develop because of how one eye may be light-adapted, while the other could be dark-adapted.

When one turns off the phone screen, the dark-adapted eye may see well instantly. However, it may take the other eye some time for it to adjust to the dark environment.

Cell phone blindness has also been observed in both of the eyes. In such cases, both are light-dapated and may take time for them to adapt to the darkness.

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Cases of Cell Phone Blindness

It typically involves painless and sudden vision loss, usually in just one eye, after looking at a smartphone screen in low-light conditions. It is expected that normal vision will return in a couple of minutes.

A 2019 case study noted how a 68-year-old woman experienced such a phenomenon. The woman reportedly complained of vision loss in her two eyes for a couple of minutes whenever she went up to use the comfort room during the night.

In another case study from 2021, a woman from Norway reported having identical painless vision loss episodes that seemed like dark lenses were placed in front of one of her eyes. For each case, her vision returned gradually within ten to 15 minutes.

Is Cell Phone Blindness Serious?

In the case of cell phone blindness, normal vision may come back in a span of minutes. There have not been any reports of vision loss that exceed 10 to 15 minutes.

While some people may find vision changes concerning, this phenomenon has not been associated with any complications. Though vision problems may persist for a couple of minutes, it should only last for a brief moment.

However, frequent staring at screens could result in dry eyes. For uncomfortable and dry eyes, the application of artificial tears could help keep moisture in the eyes.

While cell phone blindness itself may not necessitate medical attention, it is essential to seek medical assistance if vision loss does not go back to normal after a couple of minutes or if other concerning symptoms, such as sudden eye pain, accompany cell phone blindness.