Research Reveals That Children’s Vision Was Greatly Harmed By COVID Lockdowns, With One In Three Youngsters Suffering From Myopia

According to a recent analysis, there has been a global increase in the worsening eyesight of children, with approximately one in three kids now experiencing short-sightedness or difficulty seeing objects from a distance. 

This concerning trend has become even more pronounced following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting a potential correlation between the two occurrences.

According to the study, millions of children worldwide would be impacted by myopia, or short sight, by the year 2050. During the pandemic, children began to spend more time indoors and less time outside because of lockdowns connected to COVID-19, which negatively impacted their vision.

The highest percentages are found in Asia; 73% of children in South Korea and Japan and over 40% of children in China and Russia are short-sighted.

A study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that short-sightedness tripled between 1990 and 2023, reaching 36%. The research involved over five million children and teenagers from 50 countries across six continents. 

Paraguay and Uganda had the lowest levels of myopia, while the UK, Ireland, and the US had 15%. The pandemic was a significant factor in this increase.

Myopia typically begins in primary school and worsens until the eye stops growing at around 20 years old. Genetics and living in East Asia contribute to myopia, as young people spend more time focusing on books and screens in places like Singapore and Hong Kong, causing strain in eye muscles and potentially leading to myopia.

In addition to all of these factors, lockdowns and the pandemic continue to be the main causes of the decline in children’s vision.

Research wrote “Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between the pandemic and accelerated vision deterioration among young adults,” 

Girls and young women are more likely to have weak eyesight than boys

According to the study, girls and young women are more likely than boys and young men to have impaired vision since they often spend less time outside as children, both at home and at school. Girls typically experience shortsightedness earlier in life since their growth and development, including puberty, begin earlier in life.

In order to lower their risk of developing short-sightedness, it is recommended that kids spend at least two hours outside each day, especially between the ages of seven and nine.

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