It is not uncommon for children to be nearsighted nowadays. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, the rate of children with refractive errors, especially nearsightedness, is increasing rapidly. This not only affects the quality of life of children but also poses a major challenge to the health and education systems of the whole country.
According to the latest data from the Central Eye Hospital, the rate of myopia in Vietnamese children has now exceeded 30%, even in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, this figure is up to 40-50%. This is much higher than other countries in the region. The main cause of this situation comes from children's unscientific living habits and learning environment.
According to a study by the Vietnam Ophthalmology Association, children spend an average of 4-5 hours a day using electronic devices, while the safe limit is only 1-2 hours. Continuous exposure to blue light from screens and lack of outdoor exercise are the leading factors causing early myopia.
In addition, the learning environment with high academic pressure, long study hours and poor lighting in classrooms are also the main causes of the increase in myopia in children. In some schools in big cities, cramped classrooms, lack of natural light, or substandard study lights cause children's eyes to over-adjust, easily causing refractive errors.
Myopia not only affects vision but also affects the overall development of children. Myopic children tend to have difficulty absorbing lessons, affecting their learning outcomes. In addition, this condition also makes children lack confidence, easily limiting them in sports activities or social interactions.
Faced with this alarming situation, health experts recommend that parents and schools take early intervention measures to protect children's eyes, such as: Reducing the time spent using electronic devices. Parents should limit their children's use of electronic devices to less than 2 hours per day. At the same time, children should be encouraged to rest and exercise outdoors for at least 1-2 hours per day so that their eyes can relax and be exposed to natural light.
At the same time, increase regular vision checks, improve lighting conditions in study and living, desks and chairs must be suitable for children's height, and the study space must be airy and have enough natural light.
In addition, it is necessary to educate children about the importance of protecting their eyes, encourage them to read at the correct distance, sit in the correct posture, and avoid reading in the dark or while lying down.
October 10 is World Sight Day. To protect children’s eyes and the future of Vietnam’s young generation, the whole society, from parents, schools to authorities, is needed to join hands. Only by raising awareness, implementing preventive measures and early intervention, can we reduce myopia, helping children have healthy eyes and a bright future.
