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While screens offer many benefits, they also come with a downside, increased strain on young eyes, contributing to a rising number of myopia cases.
Spending long hours looking at screens up close and staying indoors with limited exposure to natural light can put extra stress on young eyes, potentially speeding up the progression of myopia
Children today spend more time than ever on digital devices for learning, entertainment, and communication. While screens offer many benefits, they also come with a downside, increased strain on young eyes, contributing to a rising number of myopia cases.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is where distant objects appear blurry while nearby objects remain clear. It happens when the eye grows too long from front to back, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This condition often begins in childhood and worsens as the child grows. If not addressed early, myopia can lead to more serious eye issues later in life, such as retinal complications and a higher risk of glaucoma.
Spending long hours looking at screens up close and staying indoors with limited exposure to natural light can put extra stress on young eyes, potentially speeding up the progression of myopia. Dr Lakshmi Shinde, MSc Optom, FAAO, FBCLA, FIACLE Shinde Kids Eye Care, BEL Road Bengaluru shares all you need to know:
What Parents Can Do
• Encourage outdoor time: Aim for at least 1–2 hours of outdoor play daily to give eyes a break from close-up focus and benefit from natural light.
• Limit screen time: Keep a healthy balance between digital and offline activities, especially during leisure hours.
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, have your child look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to reduce eye strain.
• Use screens in proper lighting: Avoid using digital devices in dark or poorly lit rooms, which can increase eye fatigue.
• Schedule regular eye check-ups: An annual visit to the eye doctor helps monitor vision changes and catch issues early.
• Consider myopia control lenses: Some eyeglass lenses are designed to correct blurry vision and slow down the speed at which myopia worsens. Brands like ZEISS offer options such as ZEISS MyoCare lenses, developed specifically to support myopia management in children. These lenses combine comfort, UV protection, and effective control of eye elongation.
With the growing use of digital devices in daily life, myopia is becoming more common at an early age. However, this progression is not something parents have to accept as inevitable. Early intervention through lifestyle changes, regular eye exams, and specially designed myopia control lenses can make a meaningful difference in protecting a child’s long-term vision.
While screens are now a part of childhood, protecting young eyes doesn’t have to be complicated. Encouraging outdoor time, limiting device use, and staying consistent with eye check-ups are simple yet powerful habits. For children already diagnosed with myopia, solutions like ZEISS MyoCare lenses offer gentle, science-backed support to help manage their progression. A proactive approach today can help ensure children enjoy clearer, healthier vision tomorrow.
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