Ahmedabad: Ophthalmologists at the All Gujarat Ophthalmological Society (AGOS) summit said the rising burden of myopia among children and adolescents is driven not only by digital device use but also by a lack of outdoor activities. The two-day summit began on Saturday.Dr Jagdish Rana, AGOS secretary, said that in the urban areas of Gujarat, ophthalmologists saw a rise in paediatric patients with myopia after the Covid period. “There was a 20% rise in such cases compared to the pre-Covid period. Use of digital devices and other screens for a prolonged period is surely a reason, but we must emphasize the fact that the eyes are now not trained to see far for a long time,” he said, adding that parents must ensure outdoor activities for children on a regular basis.The conference focuses on preventive measures, solutions, and treatment options to address the rapidly increasing problem of myopia among children and young adults.According to India-centric studies, the prevalence of myopia has increased among school-going children from about 5% in the 2000s to over 20% in 2020s. While rural areas have prevalence of around 7-8%, it is much higher in the range of 20-22% in urban areas. According to experts, post-Covid, excessive, and early use of screens — in several cases under five years of age — has significantly contributed to the rise. “When we interact with children, we often ask them about their routine. A growing number of children tell us that they have their meals in front of a screen like TV, laptop or smartphone,” said a city-based ophthalmologist.
