The Impact of Screen Time on Kids' Myopia: TED Radio Hour

The prevalence of myopia, or nearsightedness, is increasing among children worldwide, with experts attributing the rise to excessive screen time and lack of outdoor activities. Spending too much time indoors and staring at screens causes the eyes to prioritize near vision over distance vision, leading to elongation of the eyeballs and myopia. Early onset myopia can result in severe vision problems later in life. To combat this, experts recommend limiting screen time, encouraging outdoor play, and taking regular breaks to exercise distance vision. Orthokeratology, a treatment involving overnight hard contact lenses, has shown promise in slowing down the progression of myopia in children.