A study conducted in Hong Kong among children aged 6 to 8 years noted that the proportion of children with nearsightedness (myopia) surged from 19.4% at the onset of the pandemic to 35.3% after 8 months.

The study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology revealed that the average amount of time spent by children outdoors declined from around 90 minutes a day to less than half an hour in a day. Additionally, the total time spent by children on close visual work has been found to increase from about 3.5 hours a day to about 8 hours, primarily due to an increase in screen time.

However, the study could not prove that changes due to the pandemic, such as closure of schools, led to higher rates of myopia. The study results can be seen by eye care professionals, policy makers, educators and parents, as a warning that efforts are needed to prevent myopia in children… (Reuters, August 14, 2021)