Prolonged screen time, limited outdoor exposure impact eyesight of Hyderabad kids: LVPEI study

Hyderabad: A recent study conducted by the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) sheds light on the increasing prevalence of vision impairment (VI) among schoolchildren in Hyderabad and other urban centers.

Titled 'Initiative for Screening Children for Refractive Errors and other Eye Health Needs (I-SCREEN)', the study was published in the 'Indian Journal of Ophthalmology'.

The study revealed the impact of urban lifestyle on children's eyesight.

According to the LVPEI researchers, urban school children, particularly in Hyderabad, are more susceptible to vision impairment compared to their counterparts in rural districts. The study encompassed 7,74,184 children across Mahabubnagar, Hyderabad, Nizamabad, and Adilabad districts, with a notable gender distribution of 3,98,596 boys and 3,75,588 girls.

The primary contributing factors identified by the study were prolonged screen time with smartphones and limited outdoor exposure due to the lack of open spaces in urban areas. The surge in online classes during pandemic-induced lockdowns exacerbated the situation for school-going children in cities.

The prevalence of vision impairment among children in Hyderabad was found to be twice the average in rural districts, with an overall state prevalence of 1.1 percent. Refractive errors emerged as the leading cause of vision impairment in school children, aligning with the global pattern where these errors constitute the most common correctable or treatable cause of VI.

LVPEI researchers stressed the potential consequences of vision impairment on academic performance and social development, emphasizing that disability caused by VI impacts children more significantly than adults in terms of disability-adjusted life years. Early identification of VI and its causes is crucial for timely interventions, which can prevent negative consequences on a child's overall development.

The study advocates for a proactive approach through a 'School Vision Screening Programme' to detect visual impairments among children at a young age. This cost-effective strategy aims to identify refractive errors, myopia, amblyopia, and other conditions, enabling timely treatment and corrective measures.

“In this study, refractive errors were the major cause of VI among school children, reflecting the global prevalence of refractive errors as the most common correctable/treatable cause of VI among school children," said Dr. Mallika Goyal, an ophthalmologist in Hyderabad.

“Vision impairment can have a profound impact on a child's development. Implementing a School Vision Screening Programme is a practical and effective means to identify and address visual impairments at an early stage," said Dr. Goyal.

“The LVPEI study highlights the urgent need to address the growing trend of vision impairment among urban school children. The proposed School Vision Screening Programme emerges as a pragmatic solution to mitigate the impact of screen time and limited outdoor exposure, ensuring a healthier visual environment for the younger generation” Dr. Goyal said.