75% kids suffer from bad vision and don't even know it

Ever wonder what the effect of all those gadgets might be on your kid's eyes? Well doctors have found that almost 20% of all school children suffer from diminished vision and might not even know it. The study conducted at Advance Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai by Dr Vandana Jain, says that the rising incidences of eye conditions in children could be on the rise due to increased use of laptops, tablets and cell phones.

It was found that almost all children either refused to wear glasses due to parental apathy or the fear of being ridiculed by peers. The problem is further compounded by the fact that parents did not see the need to take their children for regular eye examinations. In a conversation with the Times of India, Dr Vandana Jain said that the first 11 years of a child's life are crucial for the development of the eye. If measures are not taken to correct the child's vision in time, it could lead to permanent damage to the child's vision.

It has been seen that infants between the age of 3 and 5 can also have eye problems, which if treated appropriately can be curbed at an early stage. Most parents did not know that babies required an eye examination and that it was as important as vaccinations or maintaining a healthy diet. When asked, they felt that an eye examination was required only in case their child felt any discomfort in seeing the blackboard or reading. According to Dr Prachi Desai, Paediatric Ophthalmologist, children don't know the difference between good and bad vision. For them not being able to see well is normal, as they have no real basis of comparison. In such a case a routine eye examination is necessary. She also said that most parents go to a doctor only when the child shows disinterest in reading or studying and by that time it is a bit too late.

The study showed that with progressing age of the child , apathy and ignorance of the parents came down, dropping from 73% in the 5- 8 age group to 70% in the 9-12 age group.

While the statistics are alarming, the exact reason behind the increase in poor vision is not clear. Dr Jain said that there is no clear data on the impact gadgets have on a child's eyesight, but their role cannot be overlooked. Dr S.S.Bhatti surgeon and member of the Bombay Opthamologists Association said that although this data cannot be overlooked, the reason for more children having poor eyesight could also be attributed to the fact that opthamology has made significant advances in diagnostic techniques in India. Coupled with better medical facilities, more children may be diagnosed with eye disorders.

Either way, doctors say that the only way to curb this growing trend is to have proper screening programs at the school level and at home. Dr Prachi Agase says that poor vision can lead to a number of other problems like low self esteem and other developmental problems in children simply because they may not be able to excel in academics. All these problems can be avoided by wearing a simple pair of glasses.

We asked our expert, Dr Prachi Agase, when a parent should take their child for an eye check up. She says that ideally a child should have his/her first visit at 1 year of age, followed by a follow up at 3 years of age, also known as the pre-toddler age and the last one before going to school at 5 years of age. If all these check up have been normal, a child should have eye check ups every two years. If the doctor does detect a problem in the child's vision, he/she should be closely monitored to curb and further damage.

When asked about methods to maintain good vision, our expert Dr Vandan Jain said that the general tips for eye care is a combination of various things. Firstly, a healthy balanced diet. Be it a vegetarian or non-vegetarian diet, she says that it is important to include foods that are rich in Anti-oxidants, Vitamin A and Omega fatty acids. Secondly, the reading or working habits contribute greatly to healthy vision. Today, most children prefer to study either lying down or while sitting on the bed. This can be very harmful for the eyes. It is essential that the child sits in a comfortable position with a good light source focused on the book. Another thing that is important is that the child takes enough breaks and gives his/ her eyes enough rest. Lastly, UV light. Dr Jain says that UV light is very bad for the eyes. It is important to ensure that you and your child wear good sunglasses that protects the eyes.