The link between increased screen time and Myopia is well known. But a new meta-analysis, covering 45 studies and more than 335,000 people worldwide, illustrates just how serious the risk is.
Published Mar 26, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 26, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Synopsis: A new study has found that every additional hour of daily screen time increases a child’s risk of developing myopia by 21 percent. Researchers reviewed data from over 335,000 people and suggest keeping recreational screen use under one hour per day to protect children’s eyesight. Experts warn this growing trend could result in half the world’s population needing glasses by 2050.
A child glued to a tablet, a teenager scrolling through social media, or an adult staring at a laptop for hours – these are all common sights that one may encounter in our lives today.
And a new study warns that this trend could soon lead to an epidemic, with as many as half the world’s population experiencing problems with distance vision.
The link between increased screen time and Myopia is well known. But a new meta-analysis, covering 45 studies and more than 335,000 people worldwide, illustrates just how serious the risk is.
Just one hour a day begins to elevate risk.
At four hours, the likelihood nearly doubles.
Beyond that, the risk continues to climb, albeit more gradually.
The takeaway is hard to ignore: as our lives become increasingly digitized, our vision may be paying the price.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, is a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis examining the relationship between digital screen time and the risk of myopia.
Researchers analysed data from 45 studies involving a total of 335,524 participants, assessing how increased screen time affects the risk of developing myopia.
They found that for every additional hour of daily screen time, the odds of developing myopia increased by 21 percent. The risk increased sharply between one and four hours of screen time per day and then continued to rise more gradually. The findings suggest a potential safety threshold of less than one hour per day to minimise the risk of myopia.
With screens now an unavoidable part of daily life, the question isn’t just whether digital devices contribute to myopia – it’s how much exposure is too much.
“Our research shows a clear pattern,” says Dr Ahnul Ha, lead author of the study. “The risk doesn’t just build up over years – it escalates significantly between one and four hours of daily screen use.”
Dr Ravindra Mohan, Director of Gleneagles Eye Centre and Founder Director of Trinethra Eye Care in Chennai, agrees with the research findings.
“In India too, there is enough literature and clinical evidence to show that the incidence of myopia is increasing significantly. By 2050, nearly 50 percent of the world could be myopic. The main reasons are increased near-work activities and less outdoor time,” he says, speaking to South First.
He explains that, with screens now an unavoidable part of daily life, the question isn’t just whether digital devices contribute to myopia – it’s how much exposure is too much.
Discussing the relevance of the study for the Indian population, especially children, Dr Ravindra highlights extensive published literature and clinical evidence indicating a growing number of children diagnosed with myopia.
The condition affects their ability to see the blackboard clearly, leading many to visit an ophthalmologist and eventually require glasses.
“In our country, among children using glasses, most are myopic. On average, about one in four or five school-going children wear glasses, although this pattern isn’t uniform across all regions,” he says.
Dr Ravindra adds that historically, people engaged in prolonged near-work have shown higher rates of myopia.
“Jewish rabbis who read the Torah by candlelight historically had high rates of myopia.” Similarly, in countries like China, Japan, and Singapore, prevalence is significantly higher – “around 80 percent of children, as they have to read and write complex scripts.”
With the increasing use of digital devices, even toddlers as young as two years old are exposed to screens.
Dr Ravindra says projections suggest that “up to 50 percent of the population by 2050 could be myopic,” highlighting a major public health concern. High myopia, in particular, places a significant burden on healthcare resources and increases the risk of complications such as “retinal detachment and glaucoma, both associated with higher degrees of myopia.”
Given these findings, Dr Ravindra advises limiting screen time, especially for recreational use. “Today, devices are used to teach and learn, and that cannot be avoided, but parents should at least limit recreational device use to one to two hours per day for young adults and growing children.”
He offers practical advice for parents: “Increase the amount of outdoor activities. Outdoor activities are usually recreational and help with the overall development of the child, including social bonding and fitness. These should be increased to at least two hours per day.”
He notes that outdoor activities not only slow down the progression of myopia but also reduce its incidence. “This is due to the lack of accommodative stimulus – meaning, during outdoor activities, the eye is not solely focusing on near objects. There is bright natural sunlight, and hence outdoor play is recommended.”
“Parents must have a greater say in what children are doing when they’re at work,” he adds. “Caretakers must be instructed to encourage play outside. Recreational use of devices must be restricted to less than two hours a day. These steps will help prevent, or at least reduce, the impact of the myopia epidemic the world seems to be facing.”
The study suggests that keeping screen time under an hour per day could be the safest threshold. Once exposure passes the one-hour mark, myopia risk starts climbing sharply, peaking around four hours before rising more gradually.
Ophthalmologists who were not involved in the study also recommend simple yet effective strategies. Dr Veerabhadraiah, ophthalmologist at Bangalore Nethralaya, Bengaluru, suggests the following strategies:
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
