Experts stress outdoor time and public health measures to tackle childhood myopia
Medical experts at a webinar hosted by The Hindu discussed the rising prevalence of myopia in children. They advised parents to prioritize outdoor time and rely on evidence-based medical advice rather than social media misinformation.
Why it matters
Rising rates of childhood myopia are a significant public health concern that requires informed parental intervention and policy support.
Greater awareness is needed to counter misinformation on social media and unproven products marketed for preventing or controlling myopia, experts said at a webinar organised by The Hindu on Sunday (August 30, 2026).
At the webinar titled ‘Excess Screentime: Is it Harming Children’s Eyes?’, Vasumathy Vedantham, ophthalmologist, vitreoretinal surgeon and paediatric retina specialist, Radhatri Nethralaya, and Vasudha Kemmanu, consultant paediatric ophthalmologist and public eye health specialist, Narayana Nethralaya, discussed the growing concern over myopia and refractive errors among children.
Dr. Vedantham highlighted the need for parents to be cautious about health information circulating on social media. She said misinformation and claims around various products and interventions for eye health were common online, and stressed that parents should rely on evidence-based medical advice rather than unverified products or remedies.
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