<p>Globally, children’s eyesight is steadily getting worse with every one kid in three now being short-sighted or unable to see things at a distance clearly, a new analysis shows. The trend has become more prevalent after the COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Short-sightedness or myopia is the new growing health concern in the world which is set to affect millions of children by 2050, the study warns. As children started spending more time on screen and less time outdoors during the pandemic, due to the COVID-19-related lockdowns affected their eyesight adversely.</p>

<p>The highest rates are in Asia – 85 per cent of children in Japan and 73 per cent in South Korea are short-sighted with more than 40 per cent affected in China and Russia.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/severe-depression-acts-out-differently-in-the-brains-of-youth-as-compared-to-adults-761894">Severe depression acts out differently in the brains of youth as compared to adults</a></strong></p>

<p>The study was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology and researched on more than five million children and teenagers from 50 countries across all six continents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Paraguay and Uganda, at about one&nbsp;per cent, had some of the lowest levels of myopia, with the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States all about 15 per cent.</p>

<p>The report revealed that short-sightedness tripled between 1990 and 2023 - rising to 36 per cent, and the reason was “particularly notable” after the pandemic, the researchers reiterated.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Can excessive use of smartphones lead to loss of vision?</strong></p>

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<p>Usually, myopia starts during primary school years and tends to worsen until the eye has stopped growing, at about 20 years of age.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Genetics play a role in the health of eyesight but other factors like living in East Asia also make myopia more likely to happen, the report said. The argument is that young people are spending more time focusing on books and screens with their eyes during their early years in places like Singapore and Hong Kong. This causes strain in the eye muscles and can lead to myopia, research suggests.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/if-you-think-humans-have-five-senses-youre-wrong-761243">If you think humans have five senses, you’re wrong</a></strong></p>

<p>Apart from all these reasons, the pandemic and lockdowns remain the top reasons for a hit on children’s eyesight.</p>

<p>"Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between the pandemic and accelerated vision deterioration among young adults," the researchers wrote.</p>

<p>By 2050, the condition could affect more than half of teens worldwide, the research predicts.</p>

<h2><strong>Young girls more prone to weak eyesight</strong></h2>

<p>Girls and young women are more likely to have weak eyesight than boys and young men because they tend to spend less time doing outdoor activities at school and at home as they grow up, the study suggests.</p>

<p>Girls' growth and development, including puberty, starts earlier which means they tend to experience short-sightedness at an earlier age too.</p>

<p>It is advised that children should spend at least two hours outside every day, particularly between the ages of seven and nine, to reduce their chances of being short-sighted.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Globally, children’s eyesight is steadily getting worse with every one kid in three now being short-sighted or unable to see things at a distance clearly, a new analysis shows.

Globally, children’s eyesight is steadily getting worse with every one kid in three now being short-sighted or unable to see things at a distance clearly, a new analysis shows. The trend has become more prevalent after the COVID-19 pandemic. Short-sightedness or myopia is the new growing health concern in the world which is set to affect millions of children by 2050, the study warns. As children started spending more time on screen and less time outdoors during the pandemic, due to the COVID-19-related lockdowns affected their eyesight adversely. The highest rates are in Asia – 85 per cent of children in Japan and 73 per cent in South Korea are short-sighted with more than 40 per cent affected in China and Russia. Also Read | Severe depression acts out differently in the brains of youth as compared to adults The study was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology and researched on more than five million children and teenagers from 50 countries across all six continents. Paraguay and Uganda, at about one per cent, had some of the lowest levels of myopia, with the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States all about 15 per cent. The report revealed that short-sightedness tripled between 1990 and 2023 - rising to 36 per cent, and the reason was “particularly notable” after the pandemic, the researchers reiterated. Watch | Can excessive use of smartphones lead to loss of vision? × Usually, myopia starts during primary school years and tends to worsen until the eye has stopped growing, at about 20 years of age. Genetics play a role in the health of eyesight but other factors like living in East Asia also make myopia more likely to happen, the report said. The argument is that young people are spending more time focusing on books and screens with their eyes during their early years in places like Singapore and Hong Kong. This causes strain in the eye muscles and can lead to myopia, research suggests. Also Read | If you think humans have five senses, you’re wrong Apart from all these reasons, the pandemic and lockdowns remain the top reasons for a hit on children’s eyesight. "Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between the pandemic and accelerated vision deterioration among young adults," the researchers wrote. By 2050, the condition could affect more than half of teens worldwide, the research predicts. Young girls more prone to weak eyesight Girls and young women are more likely to have weak eyesight than boys and young men because they tend to spend less time doing outdoor activities at school and at home as they grow up, the study suggests. Girls' growth and development, including puberty, starts earlier which means they tend to experience short-sightedness at an earlier age too. It is advised that children should spend at least two hours outside every day, particularly between the ages of seven and nine, to reduce their chances of being short-sighted. (With inputs from agencies)

One in three children now affected by myopia, Covid lockdowns impacted kids' vision the most: Study

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One in three children now affected by myopia, Covid lockdowns impacted kids' vision the most: Study