With Irish children increasingly spending time indoors and in front of screens, Specsavers has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the rising issue of childhood myopia, or short-sightedness, reports Breaking News.
The campaign is encouraging parents to act early, as experts highlight that prolonged screen exposure and a lack of natural daylight are key contributors to the development of myopia, a condition that is becoming more common worldwide.
Myopia is a type of vision issue where far-away objects appear blurry while close-up ones remain clear, reports Breaking News.
Specsavers said that globally, myopia is on the rise, and the growing prevalence in children is becoming a major public health issue.
While many people are concerned about how screen time might affect children’s health, its specific impact on eye health may not be fully recognised, reports Breaking News.
Although there is a general belief that too much screen use could be harmful to vision, awareness of particular signs—like squinting, headaches, or children sitting very close to screens—may not be widespread.
Kerril Hickey, Chair of Specsavers Ireland, said: “Children’s eyes are still developing, which makes them particularly vulnerable to the effects of extended screen use, reports Breaking News.
“The good news is that early action really can make a difference. Regular eye tests are vital in spotting the signs of myopia early and can help slow its progression. While passive screen time dominates children’s indoor habits, with TV, gaming and scrolling topping the list, more traditional activities are in decline, like playing with physical toys and reading books regularly,” reports Breaking News.
According to Specsavers, spending more time outdoors has been shown to support healthy visual development, but many children are not getting sufficient daylight as part of their daily routines.
Children who use screens extensively have shown symptoms such as headaches and rubbing their eyes. Other possible signs of excessive screen time include sore or strained eyes and trouble seeing the whiteboard at school, reports Breaking News.
“Our optometrists see first-hand the impact prolonged screen use is having on children’s eye health,” Hickey warned, reports Breaking News.
“We’re encouraging parents to look out for early signs of myopia and to prioritise time outdoors, which has been shown to help protect children’s vision. We want to empower families with knowledge and encourage them to take that first step by booking a free eye test, available for children under 12 in Ireland. One key tip to remember is the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, encourage your child to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. With myopia cases rising, early diagnosis has never been more important,” reports Breaking News.
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