Screen time leads to spectacles time

Prolonged use of digital devices causing more cases of myopia in younger kids

PETALING JAYA: An increasing number of children in the country, some as young as three years old, are now wearing glasses as a result of lifestyle changes, with extended use of digital devices posing an additional risk, say experts.

Paediatrics ophthalmologist and strabismus surgeon Dr Norazah Abdul Rahman expressed concern over the risks posed by the prolonged use of digital devices and mobile phones by young children.

“I receive a lot of children with abnormal blinking and eye rubbing. This is commonly due to dry eye, which can be treated with eye drops and limiting screen time,” she said when contacted yesterday.

If left untreated at an early stage, she said a child’s blurred vision could become permanent, resulting in myopia or near-sightedness.

Dr Norazah said recent lifestyle changes have resulted in children developing myopia at a much younger age.

“A decade ago, myopia would usually be seen among children aged between 10 and 15, but I am now seeing kids between three and four years old who need to wear corrective glasses,” she added.

She recommended parents impose screen time limits for their children, including using the “harmon distance”, the optimal distance during reading or other activities requiring visual focus.

“If possible, allow the child to spend a reasonable amount of time outside during the day doing other activities,” said Dr Norazah.

“Some countries, such as Australia and China, actually require parents to make sure that their child spends 120 minutes outdoors to prevent myopia,” she added.

On the dangers of exposure to higher-level ultraviolet (UV) radiation to a child’s eyesight, Dr Norazah said that this was not a major issue as most parents would not usually allow their children to be under the sun for hours.

Eye specialist Datuk Dr Muhaya Mohamad said that there would especially be an increase in myopia affecting young children if both parents are myopic.

“We are seeing more young children wearing glasses these days, which can be attributed to the widespread use of digital devices. And the chances of a child developing myopia increase by 40% due to genetics if both parents are myopic,” she said.

Dr Muhaya added that prolonged staring at a device screen without blinking can cause eyestrain in children, which would result in a dry-eye condition, causing blurred vision.

“A person normally blinks about 14 times a minute. However, a child may get too focused on the device screen, resulting in infrequent blinking and the dryeye condition,” she said, adding that the condition is easily treated with eye drops.

Dr Muhaya said some parents may inadvertently contribute to their children’s frequent use of digital devices.

“A child needs attention, love and a sense of feeling important, and will find the digital device more appealing if they feel neglected,” she added.

Besides limiting screen time, she said parents should consider engaging in outdoor activities with their young children to prevent myopia.

Both Dr Norazah and Dr Muhaya said that no comprehensive studies have been carried out to determine the extent of myopia affecting young Malaysians in the digital age.

Based on the World Health Organisation (WHO), myopia has been on the rise over the last decade and it is projected that half of the world’s population will have it due to lifestyle changes since the Covid-19 pandemic.