Half of child population may be nearsighted by 2050 due to screen use

• Parents are now being adviced to spend quality time playing with their children rather than relying on screens for convenience

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

Thirty percent of children are nearsighted due to prolonged use of digital screens, and the World Health Organization predicts that this figure will rise to 50 percent by 2050, Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital (LRH) Ophthalmologist Dr. Anusha Thennekumbura said.  

Speaking at the Health Promotion Bureau, experts emphasized on the importance of monitoring children’s eye health and seeking timely treatment to prevent long-term complications.  

Dr. Swarna Wijetunga, a child and adolescent psychologist at LRH highlighted that excessive screen use not only causes eye issues but also contributes to malnutrition and overnutrition, often linked to using screens during feeding times. She warned that this reliance on digital devices compromises children’s development and well-being.  

Guidelines suggest no screen time for children under 18 months and a maximum of one hour daily, with parental supervision for those aged 18 months to 2 years.   

Dr. Wijetunga also noted a shift in focus, where parents are now being adviced to spend quality time playing with their children rather than relying on screens for convenience.