Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH) has reported a 26 percent increase in myopia cases, primarily affecting children from urban areas. Myopia is becoming a growing health concern for parents.
According to a press statement, the strategies to mitigate its prevalence were discussed between national and international delegates at the first International Optometry and Vision Science Conference OPTO EXCELLENCE 2023, held in Delhi, organised by Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital.
“It has become necessary to ensure the early detection of myopia. If caught early refractive correction can be provided. There are therapeutic modalities available now to reduce the progression of myopia. Likewise was also highlighted at OPTO EXCELLENCE 2023 by Prof. Padmaja Sankaridurg, Head of the global myopia program at Zeiss stating that myopia is likely to increase by about 50% by 2050. On average, we treated 9130 cases of myopia patients in the last 2 years. The numbers are steadily increasing, and we urge parents to prioritize their child’s eye health and get regular screening done from time to time,” Dr. Neha Kapur, InCharge, Optometry Department, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, said.
Myopia can cause significant eye strain and severe headaches, which reduce the child’s overall quality of life.
“Myopia is an emerging problem, and children need to go for regular eye screening. It is imperative to do so, as most eye conditions are preventable and treatable. Limiting screen time is a must. We need to encourage children to spend more time outdoors as it stimulates the whole field of vision more evenly, with all objects being further away compared to the indoor environment,” Dr. Umang Mathur, CEO, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, Daryaganj, said.
“As a hospital dedicated to addressing the socio-economic barriers associated with eye care, we will continue to organise educational conferences, such as Opto Excellence, where young practitioners, clinicians, and researchers meet and interact with the eminent international and national speakers to refresh their knowledge from the front runners in the field of optometry,” he added.