Cases of myopia surge, mobiles replace mothers

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 29: With children of all ages exposed to excess screen time (mobile phones) and even babies given mobile phones to stop them from crying, cases of myopia are surging across the world including Manipur.
Myopia, also known as near-sightedness or short-sightedness, is an eye condition which makes it difficult to see objects far away but there is no problem in seeing near objects.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 22 per cent of the human population suffered from myopia in 2000 and the figure is projected to rise to 52 per cent.
Earlier, children wearing spectacles were very few but nowadays children without spectacles have become exceptions.
The number of students wearing spectacles is increasing rapidly in every school and this is an undeniable testimony of the alarming growth of eye defects among children.
These days the number of children who play outdoor games in local playgrounds is quite limited as they spend most of their time either watching TV or mobile phones or studying.
The eye condition in which children in the age group of 6-16 when the eyes are still developing find it difficult to see far away objects is known as simple or developmental myopia, said Wangkhei Eye Hospital Director Dr Sarungbam Bobby.
Once a child is infected by simple or developmental  myopia, it often becomes chronic but it can be kept under control, she said.
However, if simple myopia is not controlled in time, it can considerably reduce one’s vision, Dr Bobby said.
A team of myopia control and counselling team carried out a survey on children in the age group of 6-16 who came to the hospital for eye problems. The survey found 3440 children suffering from myopia out of 5150 children who came to the hospital with refractive errors, she said.
It means 67 per cent of the children with refractive errors were suffering from myopia and this is a very serious matter, Dr Bobby said.
She said that the myopia control and counselling team has been giving awareness to the public and at schools on the importance of controlling myopia and early treatment.
The team said that the changing lifestyle, reading/working under dim or inadequate light and genetic disorder are some common causes for myopia.
If a child comes back from school without copying anything from the blackboard, strains his/her eyes while watching TV and watches TV by moving very close to the screen, the child may be suffering from myopia. If any child shows such symptoms, he/she must be taken to hospital for proper examination, the team said.
Abstinence from outdoor activities, confinement within rooms are some other causes for myopia, they said.
They categorically said that excessive exposure of kids to mobile phones is one primary reason for the sharp rise in myopia cases.
If myopia is not treated in time, it can lead to thinning of retina, ‘lazy eyes’, reduced vision, permanent blurriness despite wearing glasses, early infection by cataract and glaucoma, the team said.
The team also advised parents to put children on outdoor activities for at least two hours in a day and reduce screen time (both mobiles phones and TV).
If a child complains that he/she has uncomfortable eyes, the parents should not simply dismiss the complaint by saying it might be due to excessive exposure to electronic screens.
Apart from wearing glasses, there are different ways of treating myopia but early detection and treatment is the best option, the team said.
In this age, it will be impossible to keep away children from mobile phones but it is important to reduce children’s screen time as much as possible, they said.
In the past, parents particularly mothers were indispensable in cooing or cajoling crying babies but these days mobiles phones have taken the roles of mothers.
Generally when a baby cries, parents/elders try to cajole the baby by giving her the toy or object which she likes most. But these days, mobile phones are becoming the most desired object of every kid and thus mobile phones are taking over the roles of mothers, observed mental health activist Prof RK Lenin.
Exposure to screens can be reduced if mobile phones are kept far away or switched off at least during meal times, bed time (both before sleeping and just after waking up) and while doing important works, Dr Lenin said.
He said that both children and adults should not be exposed to screens for more than two hours in a day.
The modern way of life and the search for easy options to keep children in a good mood and stop them from crying is one major factor for early and excessive exposure of babies to mobile phones, he said.
Maintaining that there is no reason for exposing babies below two years to mobile phones, Dr Lenin said that exposure of babies to mobile phones can lead to several physical and psychological health problems.
Moreover, too much exposure to mobile phones  keeps children away from social ethics, culture and traditions, he said.
He also highlighted the importance of outdoor activities, letting children mingle with the society and learn social ethics, values and traditions.