Cases of myopia rising among children in Andhra, constant exposure to smartphone screens, lack of outdoor activity could be reasons: experts

Cases of myopia or nearsightedness, a condition in which a person can not see long distance objects, were increasing among children, and many of them did not have access to playgrounds in their vicinity or could not find enough time to play in the open, which would have required them to look at distant objects, shows a study conducted by a team of doctors led by Manchu Kumara Swamy, a senior ophthalmologist and a former president of Rotary Club-Vizianagaram. During their study, held between June and December 2024, the team collected data of 7,200 children who underwent eye tests in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts and found that 2,350 of them had symptoms of myopia—that is one in three children, said Dr. Kumara Swamy The findings were in line with those of a study conducted by National Institute of Health in 2023, which showed that the percentage of children with myopia in the age bracket of 5-15 went up to 22 from 4.4 over the past two decades, the doctor said. He said the children’s eyes were confined to only watching objects in short distances, such has books, mobile phones and television screen.“Cases of myopia among children has been increasing, particularly after COVID-19. Das, former assistant governor of Rotary Clubs and paramedical ophthalmic officer of Srikakulam district, said that myopia cases were being registered among children of rural areas as well.