Mumbai: “Children nationwide and globally are in danger of developing severe “myopia” and damaging their eyes in an uncontrolled atmosphere of vision-related activities, if corrective actions are not undertaken immediately,” said Dr Jay Goyal while launching Mumbai’s “1st Myopia Clinic for Kids” on Childrens Day.

The doctor also unveiled and highlighted the use of Western India’s first cutting-edge technology device –“Oculus Myopia-Master” — in assessing and managing progression of myopia in children. This device played a crucial role in early detection, treatment and monitoring of myopia, he added.

Highlighting a 6-month study through a “Childrens Camp” held in a school recently, Dr Goyal, Director of the Surya Eye Institute and Research Centre, said that a recent school camp covering 1,256 students witnessed barely 36% students having normal vision with the remaining affected with myopia.

However, “on a positive note, 946 of these students received treatment successfully,” he said, while noting that “Myopia (near-sightedness) if left untreated leads to retina detachment, besides causing headaches, eye strain, squinting, excessive blinking etc.”

While 40% of Indian children are likely to be affected by myopia by 2030, he said the School Camp’s activity figures had prompted the Centre to create a “myopia” awareness campaign that would be focusing on the schools level in Mumbai, before planning to spread nation-wide gradually.

Underlining the causes of myopia among children as “uncontrolled use of mobiles, computers and television, dietary factors, besides greater time spent indoors,” he said much-needed lifestyle changes in this regard — including ‘Sunlight Progression’ (playing and other activities in sunshine), ‘reducing screentime’, using myopia glasses and eyedrops, and also educating the parents on this issue – would bring about 80% change in the children.   

“Untreated myopia progresses rapidly in children, causing complications like amblyopia, cataracts, glaucoma, besides significantly impacting academic performance, while early detection and treatment significantly reduces the progression of the condition,” he added.

The Centre is also holding a “free screening” (which normally costs Rs 800-Rs 1,000) camp here from November 14 to 20 – aligning with National Myopia Week — for school children, he added.