The myopia epidemic: Why reducing screen time is crucial for kids

In today’s technology-driven world, where screens are an inescapable part of daily life, a new epidemic is rapidly growing: childhood myopia, or nearsightedness. This trend is alarming; it is not just a small problem causing dependency on glasses. It has health implications for the eye as it increases risk of eye diseases such as glaucoma and retinal detachment.Parents, educators, and healthcare professionals must attend to this emerging problem on a priority basis.

The Rise of Myopia in Children

Myopia, a refractive error causing blurring of far vision creating a need for glasses for good far vision. The alarming trends associated with childhood myopia cannot be ignored. Some studies predict that by the year 2050 nearly half of the population in the world may be suffering from myopia. In India, the incidence of myopia among children is ever increasing and parallels the increase in screen time. This trend has become especially prominent since COVID-19 pandemic and the advent of online classes

The Effect of Screen Time

While genetic factors are the most important factor in the development of myopia, environmental factors such as more extensive use of screens and more limited outdoor time are major contributors. Kids spend more than half their waking time indoors looking at screens to get their schoolwork done or to watch their favourite programs. Natural lighting promotes healthy eyes, controls growth, and prevents elongation of the eyeball.
Consequences of Early-Onset Myopia
Myopia complications extend beyond vision. If the onset of myopia begins early in life, there may be a potential increased risk of advancing eye problems down the road, like glaucoma, and retinal detachment. Besides, correction of myopia with corrective lenses from an early age can further have psychological implications for the child and limit the participation of young ones in specific sports and other activities that may have impacts on the child’s self-esteem and quality of life.
What can be done?
Parents also play an important role in the prevention and control of myopia among their children. Avoid excessive screen time, encourage frequent, regular breaks from near activities, and get them out to play go a long way toward slowing the rate of progression of myopia. Schools might develop a curriculum that includes frequent pauses for screen time and promotes eye-friendly classroom practices. Routine eye exams are also necessary for monitoring vision changes and providing early intervention.
In essence, today, we just cannot afford to ignore the most nagging public health issue: that of epidemic myopia. And if we collectively make a conscious effort at reducing screen time and increasing outdoors, we can actually save our children’s vision and thereby secure their future well-being too.
(Article Courtesy: Dr. Sameer Kaushal, Head Ophthalmology, Organ Transplant, Artemis Hospitals)