The onset and progression of myopia (near-sightedness) and the cases of ‘squint eye’ among school-going children may have increased at an alarming rate since 2020, according to Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital. Dr. Samar Sengupta, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital, West Bengal, said, “There is a 100% increase in annual myopia progression and a five-fold increase in annual ‘Squint Eye’ cases among children of 5-15 years during the pandemic year.” On the onset of myopia, the annual incidence among the Indian children in this age group may have doubled since the imposition of lockdown in 2020, he added.
On the occasion of Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month, in a press release issued by Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital (one of India’s largest networks of eye care centres), Dr. Samar Sengupta said, “There has been an unprecedented increase in the number of acute onset comitant esotropia among the paediatric population during the recent pandemic years. The progression of myopia has been another cause of concern. We find nearly 100% progression among children.”
He added that during the lockdown period, the near-work often involves computers, laptops, and mobile phones or tablets, taken up without frequent breaks and increased screen time for academic or other purposes. For myopia progression, the treatment options are low dose atropine eye drops, progressive addition lenses, multifocal spectacles and special contact lenses, he said.
