Using smartphone in the dark may cause permanent blindness, Dept of Thai Health warns

[Emster23]

"Experts" used to say you'd go blind if you played with yourself. Perhaps adding smart phone doubles the chance? 2X0 still equals 0, however.

[NongKhaiKid]

He then advised smartphone users to rest their eyes for 10 minutes after spending 20 minutes on the phones.

I thought that's what they do in the office already during work.

Unfortunately also when driving.

[lostmebike]

And it's quite amazing that many didn't know this already.

Edited April 30, 2016 by lostmebike

[robertthesculptor]

Whine whine whine....don't do that it will make you blind....don't do that it will grow hair on your palms.....hmmm

[AlphMichaels]

Great Saturday AM comic relief. Perhaps the good "Doctor" (sure?) & acting director-general of the Department of Health can take an equally aggressive stance/focus on dental hygiene.

[jacko45k]

And TVs do not?

Or computers.

What a quack.

[Jonmarleesco]

No doubt that over-reliance on smartphones, tablets, etc. is a health hazard. But blindness?

[wabothai]

Look at it on the bright side. The folks might even exchange a few words in stead.

[wabothai]

Whine whine whine....don't do that it will make you blind....don't do that it will grow hair on your palms.....hmmm

In the old days you were told that jacking off would cause blindness. Honestly.

[bluebluewater]

MEDICAL ALERT: Looking at that same smartphone in the dark AND having a wank will make one go blind even quicker!

[Kabula]

Everything just went dark!

No problem, the window blinds were just pulled.

[12DrinkMore]

Whine whine whine....don't do that it will make you blind....don't do that it will grow hair on your palms.....hmmm

In the old days you were told that jacking off would cause blindness. Honestly.

Although we moved deviated off the Smart Phone issue, prior to the 20th century jacking off was believed to be the cause of a wide range of physical and mental illnesses including epilepsy, paralysis, impotence, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, feeble mindedness, and insanity.

This is why British and American doctors began recommending circumcision primarily as a deterrent to masturbation.

The US still carries on chopping, it puts multi-billions into the pockets of the doctors every year. The UK stopped because it was not considered "value for money" on the national health.

My granny told me I would get hairy palms.

[12DrinkMore]

MEDICAL ALERT: Looking at that same smartphone in the dark AND having a wank will make one go blind even quicker!

And if you are charging the phone to prevent power loss at the crucial moment, the ensuing explosion could cause severe mutilation or worse to the exposed member.

[12DrinkMore]

While we are on this important health topic. There is evidence that being out in the sun is important to the development of the eyes and can prevent myopia.

http://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120

This is particularly significant in kids up to their mid teens when the eyes are still developing.

[Beats56]

What a bunch of BS. I worked over 34 years in a petrochemical plant. 12 hour shifts sitting in front of over 8 monitors all night with dimmed lights in the control room in the evening. Only problem I have is age related needing reading cheaters other than that my eye sight is perfect. And I do have a smart phone and tablet.

[Jimbo2014]

It really depends what you are watching on your smartphone. Too much porn and you know what they say ???. More raindances from the Ministry of no sense ?

[Mooner]

What about watching TV in the dark?

[Brer Fox]

I can think of another example where it is claimed that an excess of self enjoyment, night or day, can cause blindness. Perhaps Dr Vajira Phengchan has been experimenting with that theory also which has affected his judgement and resulted in him coming up with this preposterous warning about smartphones.

[realenglish1]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahah

'

The last time I laughed so hard was when the sex therapist said I should not do the "nasty" or I will go blind

Where do these guys get their information from Certainly not from a medical authority .

[Somtamnication]

When I was young, my mommy told me that masturbating will cause blindness. Who to believe?

[Lingba]

masturbation causes blindness too

[realenglish1]

Here in Thailand 2 headed frogs will help you pick a winning lotto ticket so a comment that cell phones cause blindness is not unexpected

[FredNL]

Complete BS !!!

It's the same BS as not using any lights on your motorcycle or car, because the electricity for that will be charged on your electrical bill.. Still many people believe this. But what can you expect in a country with an average IQ of 82. In the land of the blind, one-eye is king !

[lvr181]

My mother told me something different! But there were no smart phones in those days.

More snake oil announcements, this time from LOS.

[recycler]

So does jerking off...

[selftaopath]

Uh, I'll go ahead and call complete and utter BS on this. How could someone who calls himself a doctor come up with this tripe? He should be relieved of his position immediately.

But he's a Thai official....no need for facts.

[HooHaa]

Right now I'm doing exactly what the doctor tells us not to do. Posting on TV from the phone with the lights off.

If I go blind I will ask a friend to continue posting on my behalf.

Why?

[HooHaa]

Excellent point. I suspect the good doctor was too circumspect to mention it was only people masturbating in the dark with their phones who are at risk.

[mgjackson69]

When I was young, my mommy told me that masturbating will cause blindness. Who to believe?

...and I told mom you go ahead and do it for me then, you already wear glasses.

[bazza40]

Thais can't really win in the TV environment. If they stick their necks out and make an authoritative statement, they are howled down by the Thai-bashers. If they say nothing, they are castigated as bludgers.

The doctor making the assertion may have a truckload of clinical studies to support his assertion. The fact Thai Visa does not provide meaningful data is not his fault.

Many years ago, a doctor in Perth, Australia linked mesothelioma with asbestos exposure. His findings were ignored for 20 years.

The tobacco industry for decades has made an art form of ignoring the statistical link between lung cancer and smoking.