States » NorthPosted at: Oct 8 2026 6:00PM

Hamirpur, Oct 8 (UNI) Vision defects in children could rise by 40 per cent in the coming years in the country due to excessive mobile phone usage and changing lifestyles, warned Dr Naresh Purohit, Advisor- National Programme for Prevention and Control of Blindness.
Addressing reporters after presenting his research report at a workshop on "Ocular Care In Children" organised by the Dhussara, Una based Rotary Eye Hospital on the occasion of World Sight Day, renowned epidemiologist Dr Purohit cautioned that with the rapid rise in digital device usage, eye-related problems are becoming increasingly common, particularly among the younger generation.
According to his scientific report about 30,000 cases of child visual impairment are being reported every year in India and the number is increasing.
He revealed that the reason for such a large number of children suffering from blurred vision is malnutrition, consanguineous marriages, and prolonged watching of mobile phones and television.
“Many people are addicted to playing games on mobile phones, tabs and computers. They watch the games from a close range for long hours, leading to eye diseases,” he averred.
He urged the parents to provide a quality diet for their wards to avoid eye problems.
"Increasing time spent on near-vision activities, combined with insufficient outdoor exposure, has been associated with the growing concern around myopia, or short-sightedness," he said.
"WHO guidance recommends regular breaks during work and encourages children to spend adequate time outdoors in daylight,"he added.
Noted Preventive Eye care expert advised parents to stop giving mobile phones to children for playing and instead encourage them to spend time playing outdoors in the sunlight.
He pointed out that vision impairment among children has surged from an earlier 4 per cent to 14 pc today.
"Drawing comparisons internationally, it was noted that much like measures taken in countries such as China and Singapore, the Indian government should encourage schools to increase students’ exposure to natural sunlight, which acts as a key preventive measure against eye problems," he said.
Expert pointed out that in India, the prevalence of childhood blindness is estimated at 0.17 pc, of which 33 pc is caused by refractive errors. Over 1 crore Indian children, 5 pc of all children in the country, suffer from vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error. Most of them are underprivileged and cannot afford a pair of spectacles.
Reiterating the urgent appeal, he emphasised that for the sake of the younger generation’s future, parents must keep mobile phones away from children and actively foster a habit of outdoor play in the sunlight.
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