More kids wearing glasses due to increase in screen-time, device use

More school-aged children need to wear prescription glasses as they spent more time on devices — and homeschooling is not helping.

Too much screen-time is taking its toll with a 21 per cent jump in school-aged children needing glasses in the five years to 2020 and youngsters complaining of headaches, blurred vision and tired, dry eyes after long days staring at screens.

Seven-year-old besties Clementine Schofield and Georgie Payne both wear glasses, with their parents noticing how much more they need them because of the increased time on devices for homeschooling during lockdown.

“Clementine got her glasses in kindy and we definitely find she needs them a lot more now since she is on the iPad all the time for school,” mum Aasa said.

“She needs them more regularly and her eyes get so tired — even with the glasses she still needs regular breaks so we try and go outside and see the sunshine and get off the screens when we can.

“I’m lucky she loves them though, she’s got three pairs in all different colours and when she got them all her friends were jealous, so we got lucky.”

Georgie Payne and Clementine Schofield, both aged seven, need to wear glasses. Picture: Tim Hunter

The new data from HCF Australia has also revealed a 28.8 per cent hike in high school-aged students needing glasses or contact lenses, with a 9.53 per cent increase for primary school pupils.

Senior optometrist Whitney Lam said more young patients were being diagnosed with myopia, or short-sightedness, and that screen time was a contributing culprit.

“Myopia is one of the most prevalent problems,” Ms Lam said.

“Our members are telling us they’re increasingly concerned about their kids spending more time on screens, especially during lockdown, and they’re right to be concerned — global studies are now telling us that increased screen time is associated with increased rates of myopia.

“Technology is helping so many families get through lockdown.

“While we can’t escape screens, we do want to help families with the right tips, tools and strategies to firstly identify signs of myopia, and then to slow its rate of progression.”

Digital wellbeing specialist Kristy Goodwin said it was no doubt that children and adolescents’ digital exposure had increased significantly during lockdown.

“I’ve delivered seminars to thousands of parents, students and teachers throughout Australia during lockdown and a common denominator that many are concerned about is digital eye strain,” Dr Goodwin said.

“Children and adolescents are reporting that they’re experiencing an increase in eye strain symptoms including headaches, blurred vision, tired eyes, redness or dry eyes after long periods in front of screens.

“Many children and teens are also reporting feeling digitally fatigued during lockdown and their tech habits can be a contributing factor.”