A man in Qingdao in China's eastern Shandong Province, used his smartphone so much that it actually caused his retina to become detached.
The New York Daily News noted that the unidentified 26-year-old male said that he saw flashes in front of his eyes after constantly staring at his cell phone. When he went to the doctor, he was informed that the retina in his left eye was detached and that he would need surgery to correct his sight.
The man reportedly messaged his girlfriend constantly during all hours of the day and at night while he was in bed, in the dark.
According to the WantChina Times, eye expert Yu Bin said that this case was “extreme,” but people can damage their eyes with excessive cell phone use. Some may experience dry eyes or even conjunctivitis after using their phones for an extended period of time. Bin also pointed out that such problems were usually seen in senior citizens, but the average age of patients with eye problems has gotten lower.
The Chinese man did undergo emergency surgery and his vision has been restored, however, he will probably spend less time messaging and keep the lights on when he does.