Surge in vision problems among school children

Mangaluru
A recent screening of schoolchildren under the National Blindness Control Programme has revealed a troubling rise in vision problems among students in Dakshina Kannada. This issue is becoming more common in both urban and rural areas, largely due to excessive screen time for academic and recreational purposes.

Between April and December 2024, 1,01,592 students from government schools and 44,359 from aided schools were screened, uncovering 3,738 vision issues in government schools and 660 in aided schools, totaling 4,398 children. The authorities have already distributed 4,109 pairs of spectacles, with the screening continuing across 1,376 schools.

A government school teacher with over 20 years of experience noted, “Previously, our government school children did not have any vision issues. However, over the past five years, I have observed that many now struggle to read and complain of blurry vision.”

Dr. Anitha Kiran, Senior Ophthalmologist at Wenlock District Hospital, added, “We have observed a significant increase in vision problems among children aged 6 to 16, a trend that was not present a decade ago. Initially, these issues were primarily seen in urban areas, but now rural children are also affected.” According to her, rural children in private and aided schools report more vision problems compared to those in government schools, where outdoor activities are more common.