A warning from an affluent neighborhood in Mexico: A 4-year-old girl almost lost her sight due to excessive use of electronic devices

In an exclusive neighborhood of Santa Fe, Mexico City, a true story has caught the attention of many parents. What seemed like a simple modern parenting routine ended up becoming a traumatic experience for one family, and now serves as a serious warning about the excessive use of technology in young children.

Dachar, a young mother who works from home as a graphic designer, publicly shared the case of her four-year-old daughter, who nearly lost her sight due to excessive iPad use. She said she started allowing her daughter to use the device when she was just two years old. “It was the only way I could concentrate on work,” she confessed. “I didn’t see it as anything bad at first. She seemed calm, learning songs, colors, shapes… what could be wrong?”

This may be a picture of 3 people and a hospital.

However, what Dachar didn’t know was that behind those hours of apparent entertainment lurked a silent risk to her daughter’s vision. The girl began squinting frequently and tilting her head when looking at objects at close range. Alarmed, the mother decided to take her to a prestigious pediatric ophthalmologist in the city.

After a thorough evaluation, the diagnosis was clear: amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye.” It is a condition in which one eye fails to develop properly, causing the brain to favor the stronger eye, leaving the other at a functional disadvantage. In cases like Dachar’s daughter’s, untreated amblyopia can lead to partial or even total vision loss in the affected eye.

The specialist also mentioned that prolonged use of screens at close range, especially at an early age, can accelerate or aggravate this condition. Consequently, the girl had to undergo surgery to partially correct the damage, in addition to beginning intensive vision therapy that includes patching and eye exercises.

“It was a nightmare,” the mother recounts. “I never thought something as common as an iPad could cause this. I felt guilty, but also grateful that I caught it early.”

After the operation, doctors imposed a strict rule: no screens. No television, no tablets, no phones, no video games. Instead, the girl now participates in physical activities, traditional games, and reading sessions with her parents.

The case has caused a stir in the Santa Fe community, where many parents are accustomed to relying on technology to entertain their children while they fulfill their work obligations. Several child development experts have pointed out that this type of dependence on devices can not only affect visual health, but also children’s social, emotional, and physical development.

An important lesson for all parents

This case leaves us with a clear lesson: electronic devices should not be a substitute for quality time with our children. Although they can be educational tools if used correctly, excessive and unsupervised use can have serious consequences. In particular, children under five should have very limited access to screens, and always under adult supervision.

It is essential to encourage children to engage in physical activity, social interaction, and creative play. These experiences not only promote holistic development but also help create stronger emotional bonds between parents and children.

Dachar hopes her experience serves as a warning to other parents. “If I can prevent another family from going through the same thing, then all this pain will have been worth it,” she says through tears.

May this story be a reminder that, even though we live in a digital world, children still need the most basic things: our attention, love, and guidance.