You can now add Pandemic Myopia to the list of lockdown after-effects

According to a study published in The Lancet Digital Health journal, screen time could increase myopia risk in young people and children. The research comes as millions of children around the world have spent substantial time using remote learning methods following the closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The study was undertaken by researchers and eye health experts from Singapore, Australia, China and the UK. The authors examined more than 3,000 studies investigating smart device exposure and myopia in children and young adults aged between 3 months and 33 years old.

After analysing and statistically combining the available studies, the authors revealed that high levels of smart device screentime is associated with around a 30 percent higher risk of myopia. And when combined with excessive computer use that risk rose to around 80 percent.

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