Optometrists Ring Alarm Bells on Excessive Screen Time

Myopia, or short sightedness, is on the rise globally, with the World Health Organisation estimating that 52% of the global population will have myopia by 2050.³ And, there’s an alarming incidence spike amongst children, with time on digital screens as a major contributing factor.

Excessive screen time's implications for generation Alpha

New research¹ has found that generation Alpha across Australia are spending an average 3.5 hours per day on screens both at home and school, potentially impacting their eye health and increasing the chances of lifelong vision and learning issues.

The research, commissioned by Specsavers, has revealed that not only are young children aged 5‑12 spending more than 3 times the amount on screens as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO)², but both parents and teachers aren’t completely confident in best prevention techniques to avoid vision damage.

Additionally, the research found that 90% of primary school teachers say they have witnessed signs of eye strain in their students, such as rubbing eyes, watery eyes, headaches, neck aches, blurry vision, and not wanting to read aloud. Over half (56%) of teachers say that they witness this at least every week and sometimes more often. And an overwhelming 98% of primary school teachers have seen or would expect negative impacts of poor vision on young children.

This sparks concern that some children’s vision issues are being left untreated, when early detection is key to the management. On top of this, nearly 1 in 3 (29%) parents of children 9 or under have never had their children’s eye sight tested ⁴.

What can parents and teachers do?

Amid this screen time surge, Optometrists are calling on parents and teachers ‑ and anyone with children in their care for extended periods ‑ to employ safer screen practices ‑ including limiting up‑close tasks, taking regular screen breaks and regular eye tests. With children being diagnosed with vision problems younger than ever before³, eye health tests should be considered an essential element of the back‑to‑school routine.

Specsavers Optometrist Michelle Phan says: “While myopia is typically successfully managed with prescription lenses, if left undiagnosed, it can impact day‑to‑day life. As Optometrists, we like to encourage parents, carers and teachers to ensure their children have their first eye test before starting school to detect and correct or manage any issues, so they don’t go untreated. Children’s eyes are still developing during their schooling years, and they can’t always tell you if they may not be able to see properly.

If your child complains about headaches, blurred vision, trouble focusing or any other issues with their eyes, I recommend booking an appointment with an Optometrist immediately rather than waiting until their next check‑up.”