Covid and Myopia in Children

Covid and Myopia in Children

Covid-19 changed our lives in so many ways, especially during times of lockdown.  We found we were spending more time in front of screens that usual, and less time outdoors, mostly due to necessity with activities such as home-schooling, or working for home.  

Studies are now coming out to show marked increases in the instances of myopia in the Covid-era, including among children.  Below, we’re sharing a post written by our national team during the nationwide lockdowns last year, but the tips and tricks suggested can be employed anytime.

With Australian children doing school from home during periodic lockdowns, they are spending significantly more time in front of their screens than they did before the COVID-19 outbreak, as a result parents have virtually given up on placing limits on the use of digital devices.

With all this extra screen time, how will your child’s vision be affected?

Spending more time indoors looking at screens and less time outside, will there be an increase in children developing myopia (short-sightedness)?

Will the increase of a reported 50% more time in front of their screens each day speed up the onset of myopia and increase prescription strength at a faster rate in the coming year?

About 40% of the world’s population has myopia and that figure is expected to rise to 50% by 2050.

Myopia causes objects further away to become more difficult to see. People who develop high myopia are at a much greater risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts much earlier in life.

Myopia for Children Covid

So, what can you do to help your kids eye health during this time of enforced home isolation?

  1. Spend Time Outside

Take your kids outside to play or exercise for at least one hour (preferably two hours) a day to help prevent myopia from developing and progressing.

  1. Plan Fun Activities

There are hundreds of things you can do with your kids; from board games and puzzles to reading a paperback book, having an indoor camp out to creating an obstacle course in your backyard.

  1. Be a Healthy Screen Role Model

Kids watch what their parents do and reflect their behaviour. Be a role model of healthy screen use to your kids. Reduce the time you spend scrolling through your phone, reduce binge watching TV series and turn off the TV as background noise.

  1. Take Phone Breaks

Make sure that, for every half hour of screen time, your kids take a 10 minute break to walk around and stretch their legs.

  1. Reduce Digital Eye Strain

To help reduce the impact of Digital Eye Strain it is important that the screen is no closer than 40cm from your child’s face.

  1. Unplug from Devices

Allocate times in the day to unplug from devices. At dinner time place all the phones on a table away from where you are all eating. Before preparing for bed, place all your phones on charge in another room and spend some time just hanging out as a family.

  1. Type of Screen Time

Be mindful of both the type of screen time and the people your kids are sharing their screen time with, as well as the duration of time they spend looking at a screen. Excessive amounts of time spent looking at a screen can be harmful to your child’s health.

  1. Natural Light is Best

Encourage your kids to sit near a natural light source when they are on their device. Bright, natural light is better for their eyes. If they can’t sit close to a natural light source, ask them to sit near a window angled perpendicular to their computer screen. At night, have their screen placed to the side of a light source, not directly underneath.

If you have concerns about your child’s eye health or you want to know more about the early impact of myopia, contact us for an appointment.

This article first appeared at Eyecare Plus Optometrists and is republished with permission.

Other articles you may find interesting:

Hidden in plain sight – How the Covid-19 pandemic is damaging children’s vision

If you don’t wear glasses now, you probably will soon

This website does not provide medical advice.  It is intended for informational purposes only.  It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.  Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment.  If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately dial Triple 0 (000).

Covid and Myopia in Children
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