School suspension hurts children’s eyes: research

Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University say they have found a substantial increase in the number of primary school pupils developing astigmatism after face-to-face classes were suspended for a considerable period of time last year.

The research team compared the vision screening results of more than 100 children – aged between eight and 10 – obtained in October 2018 and June 2020.

It found that the percentage of students suffering from astigmatism – a condition of the eye which results in distorted or blurred vision due to refractive errors – has jumped from 35 percent to 57 percent.

The researchers also found that the pupils on average spent 30 minutes to one hour more on digital devices per day during their leisure time after the school suspension was first implemented in February 2020.

Dr Jeffrey Leung from the university’s School of Optometry said traditionally, astigmatism is not very common among children, adding that the suspension of face-to-face classes has had a big impact on children’s eye health.

“This study is the first study we found an increase in their astigmatism including the magnitude and also the proportion,” Leung said.

“They need to use the mobile devices in order to attend the classes, as now they’ve switched to online classes. Secondly is probably because they have more time to stay at home, and they don’t have much to do, and therefore spending more time on YouTube and video games, using digital devices.”

He said previous studies have shown that astigmatic children have a higher chance of developing myopia, or nearsightedness.

The expert advised parents to make sure their children are exposed to sufficient sunlight, and are doing enough to prevent eyestrain.

Leung also urged teachers to increase the size of letters and pictures in their online teaching materials, so that children would not have to strain their eyes when looking at their computer monitors.