Myopia, commonly known as short-sightedness, is a growing eye problem among school-going children. A child with myopia can see nearby objects clearly, but distant objects like the blackboard, classroom charts, or playground signs appear blurry. Because this problem develops slowly, many children do not complain, making myopia a silent vision problem that often goes unnoticed.

Why Is Myopia Increasing in Children?
• Excessive screen time on mobiles, tablets, computers, and televisions
• Less outdoor play and reduced exposure to natural sunlight
• Prolonged reading or writing without proper breaks
• Poor lighting while studying
• Family history of myopia
Children today spend more time indoors with screens and books, which puts extra strain on their eyes.

Signs and Symptoms Parents Should Watch For
Children often do not realize they have vision problems. Parents and teachers should look for these warning signs:
• Sitting very close to the TV or holding books too close
• Difficulty seeing the blackboard
• Squinting or narrowing the eyes to see clearly
• Frequent headaches or eye strain
• Rubbing eyes often
• Poor academic performance or lack of interest in studies
Early detection can prevent further worsening of vision.

How Myopia Affects a Child’s Life
If left untreated, myopia can affect a child’s learning, confidence, and overall development. Poor vision may lead to:
• Difficulty in schoolwork
• Reduced participation in sports and outdoor activities
• Low self-esteem
• Increased risk of severe eye problems later in life
Severe or progressive myopia can increase the risk of retinal problems, glaucoma, and early cataracts in adulthood.

Diagnosis and Treatment
• Prescription spectacles – the most common and effective solution
• Contact lenses (for older children, under supervision)
• Myopia control lenses or special glasses to slow progression
• Regular eye check-ups to monitor changes in vision

Can Myopia Be Prevented or Controlled?
While myopia cannot always be prevented, its progression can be slowed with healthy habits:
• Encourage at least 1–2 hours of outdoor play daily
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds
• Maintain proper reading distance and posture
• Ensure good lighting while studying
• Limit unnecessary screen time
• Schedule regular eye check-ups, especially for school children

Also read articles of  Dr Hareesh K V

Dr Hareesh K V
Medical director
Abhishek Nethradhama
Krupa Bindu, No.971/37, Mig 15Th A Cross, A Sector
Khb High Rise Apartment
Ambedkar Colony, Yelahanka New town
Bengaluru -64
Ph: 080-4093 3219/77957 15203

Eye Hospital in Yelahanka new town – Abhishek Nethradhama

The post Myopia in School-Going Children – A Silent Vision Problem appeared first on Health Vision.

The Corona virus has deeply impacted one and all. Not only that it has brought with it several changes in everyday life and with it vicious cycles that no one could envision. One of them is school’s being shut for a prolonged period of time. To overcome the shutdown of schools; several institutes have introduced online schooling.

However, this is having an impact on children’s eye health both long term and short term. What that means for parents is that it’s time to get serious about protecting your child’s vision. With the increase in the use of electronic gadgets or as some call it screen time, many children experience a pervasive threat of digital eye strain.

After a couple hours of continuous use of laptops or mobiles one experiences tired, dry eyes, blurry vision; sometimes headaches and neck ache. Digital eye strain also known as computer vision syndrome can affect everyone who uses not just computers but also TVs, smartphones, tablets, gaming systems, etc.

The problem with virtual classrooms are that students spend more time using computers during school from home than when they attend a brick-and-mortar school, so they’re more likely to experience digital eye strain. Increased screen time increases the risk of Myopia and Myopia progression can cause stress, anxiety, loss of social skills and other behavioural issues.

How parents and teachers can help?

1. The duration of online classes must be age-appropriate. For a younger child say 4 – 6 years, the duration of the class should be one hour with one break. Older kids can have classes for 4 – 6 hours with 5 to 6 breaks.

2. Children must be allowed to take a break every 45 minutes. Some forms of physical training such as yoga or dance should be incorporated into the child’s schedule.

3. Children who use spectacles should wear them regularly. They should not be allowed to sit directly in front of an AC / Fan. This will cause their eyes to dry eyes. Lubricating Eye drops can be used in case of prolonged screen usage.

4. Make sure children follow the 20 – 20 – 20 rule and blink their eyes frequently. Every 20 minutes take a break for 20 secs and look at something 20 feet away.

5. Encourage physical activities and movement in between classes. Preferably ask them to connect to bigger screens like a TV, Laptop, or Desktop.

Dr.Rohini
Senior cataract, Lasik & ICL Surgeon
Maxivision Group of Eye hospitals, Hyderabad

The post Online schooling – a pervasive threat of digital eye strain? appeared first on Health Vision.