The COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered our lifestyle in 2020, leading to widespread lockdowns and the closure of schools and offices. As the world adapted, many children were confined to their homes for extended periods, relying on video conferencing platforms like Zoom for their education. This sudden shift to online learning raised little concern about potential repercussions on children's eye health.

However, recent findings show that this digital dependence has triggered a myopia crisis among young children globally. Startling research from China indicated a staggering 400% increase in myopia prevalence among six-year-olds by the end of 2020. Scholarships looking into near-sightedness revealed that, prior to the pandemic, children generally spent significantly more time engaged in activities requiring close vision, contributing to their risk of developing myopia.

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is characterized by the inability to see distant objects clearly, affecting aspects of daily life such as reading information on a blackboard. Central to this condition is the delicate balance between the eye's cornea, crystalline lens, and the elongated size of the eyeball, which ultimately determines whether images focus on the retina or appear blurred.

The eyeballs of infants measure approximately 16mm at birth, growing to about 24mm during puberty. Dr. Stone's research from over three decades ago identified dopamine levels in the retina as a crucial factor regulating eye growth. This concept has gained renewed interest, as recent studies conducted by Dr. Rohan Hughes in Brisbane reported rapid increases in eyeball length in children during near work activities, leading to immediate changes in vision.

Statistics reveal a troubling uptick in myopia diagnoses; about 21% of school-going children in northern India are affected, marking a fourfold increase over the last 50 years. Additionally, a groundbreaking analysis published in JAMA involved over 300,000 schoolchildren, concluding that each additional hour spent on screens significantly raises the odds of developing myopia.

The rise of severe myopia poses an even greater risk, leading to potential irreversible vision impairment and possibly blindness. Previous estimates predict that by 2050, half of the world’s population may experience myopia. In regions like South Korea, over 20% of children are classified as high myopes, intensifying the need for immediate preventative measures.

In the quest to counteract this increasing tide of myopia, researchers are advocating for the use of atropine eye drops, which have shown promise in slowing down ocular growth in young patients. Studies conducted in India reported that diluted atropine drops decreased myopia progression significantly, emphasizing the importance of active monitoring by eye specialists during treatment.

Moreover, exposure to natural light has been linked to increased dopamine levels in the retina, substantiating findings that outdoor activity can curb the prevalence of myopia. Evidence from Turkish researchers highlights that children who spent two hours outdoors each day during lockdowns had significantly reduced myopia progression.

Despite these revelations, recent educational policies, such as the National Education Policy 2020, have undermined the importance of outdoor play in schools. It's crucial for educators to ensure that children have multiple opportunities to engage in outdoor activities daily, preferably for at least two hours, to combat this looming health crisis. Engaging children outdoors not only fosters their physical well-being but also serves as a protective measure against the escalating rates of myopia in our digital age. Let's not wait until it's too late—urge for a change in policies to safeguard our children's eyesight!