World Sight Day 2025: Why childhood myopia is becoming a global wake-up call

By RK News
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09 Oct 2025

Jammu, Oct 08: Every year, the second Thursday of October is observed as World Sight Day to raise awareness about vision and eye health. This year, the worlds' focus is on childhood myopia, or near sightedness, which has emerged as a significant public health issue Myopia in children is soaring globally and changing the way they study, play and interact with the world. What was once a minor issue is now a global "wake-up call for parents, educators, and healthcare systems

According to Dr. (Lt. Col.) Abhinav Singh, Senior Consultant, Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals, "Today, increasing screen time is a major contributor to the rise in myopia in this digital age. Many children are spending hours with their eyes glued to phones, tablets or computer screens. This creates constant strain on their eyes, which leads to the onset and progression of myopia. They also have decreased outdoor play time and exposure to light from the sun. Children are not getting the balance their eyes need to stay healthy. Research has already proven that getting outdoor exercise reduces the risk of myopia because natural light helps regulate normal eye growth

Another big contributing factor is the relatively infrequent visits for eye care. Parents may think that their child's eyes are fine until they start to have difficulties with basic chores. Timely intervention is important because refractive errors left alone can progress to a serious eye condition in adulthood. such as glaucoma or retinal detachment and Amblyopia (lazy eye). Getting children into the routine of annual eye exams may go a long way in preserving their vision for the future.

World Sight Day 2025 influences communities to make small but important changes such as reducing recreational screen time, ensuring outdoor play is encouraged and making eye examination an annual habit. Schools and healthcare sectors are being encouraged to provide eye screenings and to encourage awareness programs.

The increasing incidence of myopia in children is the clearest indication that eye health is to be made a priority, not an option. While the world unites today on this World Sight Day, there is one undeniable message: securing eye health for children today will give them a brighter and clearer future tomorrow.