A recent study finds a link between the rise in kids’ worsening vision and screen time. 
The study, published by Jama Network Open, “found a one-hour daily increment of digital screen time increased the risk of myopia — or nearsightedness — by 21%. The risk increases with more time spent each day on screens,” per Parents.com.
Rates of myopia in kids are up 42% from 25% in the 1970s. Almost half of all people are expected to have nearsightedness by 2050.
A paper published in 2024 covering the same topic claimed that almost 40% of children all over the world will be nearsighted by 2050. 
“Myopia has emerged as a major public health concern nowadays, with striking evidence existing for rapid increases in its prevalence, especially for Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, China and Taiwan,” the paper stated. 
East Asian children had the highest rate of nearsightedness, with 35% — more than twice the rate of White children. 
So, what can parents do to prevent their child’s eyesight from being negatively impacted?
“We think that outdoor time is the best form of prevention for nearsightedness,” Dr. Noha Ekdawi, a pediatric ophthalmologist, told NPR. 
Ian Morgan, a myopia researcher, ran an experiment to test the real effects of outdoor time on myopia and found that “the children who reported spending more time outdoors were less likely to be myopic and, we showed later on, less likely to become myopic.”
The Mayo Clinic recommends the following steps for helping families reduce screentime in their households:
Related: 5 Tips to Help Your Child Manage Their Screen Time
Set expectations with your kids, and create goals to be intentional about reducing screen time. Many devices have features to set time limits for use.
If your kids spend a lot of leisure time on screens, including watching TV, start by setting smaller, more attainable goals. Instead of jumping right to the recommended one to two hours or less per day, start by cutting their current screen time in half.
After school or work, spend time each day talking face to face with kids and give them your full attention.
During screen-free hours, put devices away or at a charging station in a common area so they’re not attracting your kids’ attention.
Making family meal areas a phone-free zone is an easy way to start.
Putting down the phone and taking a walk or playing outdoors increases your endorphins and provides that feeling of happiness in your brain, boosting your mood and improving your physical health.
 
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