Daijiworld Media Network – London

London, Feb 23: A recent study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology has raised concerns over the growing prevalence of childhood myopia, predicting that by 2050, around 740 million children and young adults could be affected by near-sightedness.

The link between increased screen exposure and deteriorating eye health remains a pressing concern for researchers. A meta-analysis in JAMA found that every additional hour of screen time raises the risk of myopia by 21%. The study, covering over 300,000 participants across 45 research papers, revealed a strong correlation between prolonged screen usage—especially from multiple devices—and myopia progression.

Notably, the risk increases significantly between 1 to 4 hours of daily screen exposure before tapering off. However, limiting screen time alone may not be enough to prevent myopia. Experts suggest a balanced approach that includes reducing screen time while increasing outdoor activities to counteract the effects of near-vision strain.

While myopia is influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, researchers highlight various control strategies, such as specialized lenses, orthokeratology, and atropine eye drops, which have shown promising results in slowing its progression. However, consulting an eye care professional remains the best course of action for managing vision-related concerns.