Ophthalmologists suggest more outdoor activity for children

Post-COVID, there has been a spike in prescription of spectacles among children; doctors recommend at least two hours of outdoor activity daily

Ophthalmologists are ringing a note of caution for children. A section of them predicts that by 2050 nearly half of the country’s children could be wearing spectacles. At the recently concluded Myopia awareness week (March 23 to 28), ophthalmologists advocated more outdoor play time for children.

T.S. Surendran, head of Paediatric Ophthalmology at Sankara Nethralaya, said there was sharp rise in the number of patients at the hospital between 2019 and now.

Children with myopia complain of blurry vision; difficulty in reading the blackboard in school and placing the book or toys closer to the eye while reading, writing or playing. Some children develop lid infection.

Paediatric ophthalmologists Sumita Agarkar and Aparna Gopalakrishnan in the hospital say in another 30 years, around 45% of children in the country would require corrective glasses. Myopia could lead to sight-threatening conditions such as increased risk of retinal detachment; glaucoma; and macular degeneration later in life requiring expensive surgical and medical interventions.

Though family history of myopia is an important factor, excessive near work, exposure to light, lack of physical activity and quality of sleep play an important role. “The onset can be delayed with regular exposure to sunlight and engaging your child in regular outdoor activities,” said Dr. Aparna.

“Research has shown that low-dose atropine has been effective in slowing down myopia progression without any adverse events”T.S. Surendran Sankara Nethralaya

They recommend at least two hours of outdoor activities daily for children at risk of developing myopia.