Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Feb 27: Vision problems have been detected in 5,000 children in Dakshina Kannada, with more than 4,000 children now required to wear glasses on a daily basis. This issue affects not only students from government and aided schools but is also prevalent among students in private schools, where the problem is twice as widespread.

The prevalence of vision defects has increased among children aged 6 to 16 years. While some children have mild vision issues, others have severe conditions that require immediate treatment. Despite repeated warnings from parents to limit time spent watching television and using mobile phones, many children continue to ignore these advice, leading to increasingly severe vision problems among younger children. Glasses have now become a necessity even for children playing outdoors, which is raising concerns in a healthy society.

The health department conducted eye screenings in 1,376 schools across Dakshina Kannada, covering 1,01,592 students in government schools and 44,359 students in aided schools. This included 1,106 government schools and 270 aided schools. The screenings identified vision issues in 3,738 students from government schools and 660 students from aided schools. Out of these, 3,502 students from government schools and 607 students from aided schools were provided with glasses, according to health department sources.

The screening primarily focused on students from 1st to 10th grade in government and aided schools. It is important to note that these figures only account for students in government and aided schools, but it is reported that many children in private schools also require glasses.

“Near-sightedness and far-sightedness are the most common vision issues. Once these problems exceed a certain level, eye specialists recommend glasses. If left untreated, the risk of severe vision problems increases. The rise in mobile phone usage and screen time post-COVID is a major contributor to eye issues,” says a parent of a student.

“In some cases, children may be born with vision problems, but now, the excessive use of mobile phones, televisions, and other technology, along with unhealthy eating habits, are causing vision defects. Protecting eye health is crucial. When vision issues arise in children, it is best to consult an eye specialist immediately,” explains an eye specialist.