Woman goes temporarily blind in one eye from too much Pokemon Go

A pregnant woman in Taiwan recently suffered temporary vision loss in her right eye after playing Pokemon Go on her mobile phone for an extended period of time.

Shanghaiist reported that the 31-year-old woman had the pre-existing eye condition macular degeneration which can lead to blindness in a person's central vision.

Another man in his 40s with a medical history of iritis - inflammation of the iris - also had a relapse after overindulging in the popular augmented reality game.

According to Apple Daily Taiwan, New Taipei City Hospital's ophthalmology department saw a 20 per cent increase in those seeking help for dry eyes and eye strain since Pikachu and his friends spawned on the streets.

Staring at a smartphone in the dark can also cause eye strain as the eyes are forced to adapt to the bright light emitted from the screen.

Other Pokemon Go health hazards

Although Pokemon Go encourages sedentary people to start walking outdoors, some players have complained of sore legs from walking around for prolonged periods.

These enthusiastic Pokemon trainers may also feel pain in their neck or arms from frequently looking down at their mobile phone screens or repeatedly flicking Pokeballs at the adorable critters to capture them.

In addition, those who spend long hours playing the game under the sun face the risk of dehydration while walking long distances to hatch Pokemon eggs.

How to play the game safely

Pokemon trainers should take a 10-minute break after 40 minutes of gameplay, doctors advised.

During the break, they can do some stretches to soothe tired muscles and drink some water.

Wearing comfortable shoes can also help players avoid getting blisters on their feet.

Also read:

How many calories can you burn while playing Pokemon Go?

Smartphones caused temporary blindness for two women

Chinese woman, 20, nearly goes blind after 18-hour Korean drama marathon

minlee@sph.com.sg