More kids and teens are needing glasses, study shows

More children and teenagers are needing glasses these days, a trend being observed around the world, and researchers think the pandemic might have a role to play.

At Kidoptiks in Snowdon, optician Amanda Garcini has been fitting a lot more children for glasses in recent years.

“Since the pandemic and a few years or so before, because of the new world, we spend a lot of time in front of the screens,” she explained.

It appears to be a global trend. A review of more than 275 studies from around the world concluded more than one third of children and teens have myopia, or nearsightedness, which is three times higher than in 1990.

It also found a particularly steep increase in cases since the start of the pandemic.

One reason is what's known as “near work” or spending a long time focusing on one spot, like screens, phones, even reading.

Some studies have found getting kids to spend more time outside can help.

“What we want is for the eyes to relax or to see, long, long away,” said Garcini.

On top of taking a break from near work, sunlight can help, according to Dr. Robert Koenekoop, chief of ophthalmology with the Montreal Children's Hospital.

“There was a very good study that showed that, that the absence of sunlight in these kids environment, was increasing the, the risk of myopia,” he said.

If myopia becomes severe, it can lead to bigger problems down the road.

“You get thinning of the retina, retinal detachment, retinal tears are more probable,” said Koenekoop.

He said there are treatments and special lenses that can slow myopia. Children with rapidly changing vision should see an eye specialist or ophthalmologist.

Children's eyes should be checked before starting school and then yearly, according to Garcini. Eye exams are free for those under 18 with a RAMQ card.