Chennai: One in six children from elite schools and one in 20 children from crporation schools are wearing spectacles in the city, reveals an on-going study by Rajan Eye Care Hospital.
The study, started in 2008, will conclude in the middle of 2014. Dr Mohan Rajan, chairman and medical director of the hospital, said that the project, Refractive Errors Education and Prevention (REEP), was launched to eradicate blindness in children in this part of the country, screening at least five lakh children in and around Chennai up to the age of 12.
“So far we have covered around 3.5 lakh children. What we found is that nearly eight per cent of corporation school children and 15 per cent of children from affluent schools are myopic (short-sighted). This is mainly due to lack of outdoor activities and exposure to the sun. Vitamin A supplements are given in Corporation schools and after school they go out and play. Whereas, children from elite schools are in air-conditioned rooms throughout the day, they come back home and are glued to the computer, iPad or television,” says Dr. Rajan, adding that the incidence of myopia had increased from seven per cent in 2000 to 15 per cent at present
Ophthalmologists say that earlier, children used to wear glasses between the age group of six and 10, but now even two-and-a-half year-old kids had started wearing spectacles.
As part of the project, screening camps at schools are being held to identify children at high risk, education and counselling of children with refractive errors, supplementation of vitamin A whenever required and educating parents of high-risk children with various eye problems and to create an awareness about squints, refractive errors and amblyopia among others.
Watching TV, playing video games, cellphones do them in
N. Arun Kumar/ Uma Kannan | DC
Chennai: Addiction to TV, playing vidÂeo games and excessive use of mobile phones are among the prime reasons for children suffering from vision problems.
The increase in use of gadgets and lack of outdoor activities are some of the other reasons to be blamed, said ophthalmologists in the city.
On Saturdays alone, RegioÂnal Institute of OphthÂalÂmoÂlogy and Government OphÂthalmic Hospital in Egmore sees nearly 50 children.
“AwÂareness is more and so the increase in number of patieÂnts. But unlike before, vitamin A deficiency is not hugely present now. This is due to the vitamin supplements given to children in schools,” said Dr Namitha BhuvaÂneswari, director and superintendent of the eye hospital.
She added that children complain of dry eyes. “When checked for vision, it seems normal but still children complain of tiredness. It is due to dryness. Children these days constantly check for messages on mobile phone, play video games and watch television so close that it affects the eyes,” said Dr Bhuvaneswari.
Apart from vision check-up, the hospital also sees rise in trauma cases. “Cricket balls hitting the eye or siblings fight leading to eye injury are common,” says ophthalmologist Periyanayagi. From January to November 2013, the government eye hospital saw 46,309 children in OP for various eye problems including conjunctivitis and trauma among others.
Dr R Kishore Kumar, senior principal, St. John’s InterÂnaÂtional Residential School in the city, says that he witneÂssÂed three fold increase in nuÂmber of students who wear spectacles in schools.
“In the past we had students with spÂeÂctacles from class 8 but toÂday we have kids right from kindergarten classes. Such is the gravity of the issue,” he said.
Blaming a section of textbook publishers, Dr KiÂsÂhÂore Kumar noted that the textbook publishers in the pretext of reducing number of pages bring down the font size. This affects the studeÂnt’s eyesight, besides the muÂlti colour pictures in textboÂoks too damage the eyesight.
