Myopia explosion in kids: It's not screen time, but screen distance, says eye expert

Dr Carreen Pakrasi explained how screen distance, sunlight and blinking affect children's eyesight. Her advice shifts the focus from screen hours towards healthier everyday visual habits.Dr Carreen Pakrasi is an eye-care expert who spoke about rising myopia, screen-viewing distance and the importance of outdoor exposure for children's eye health at the India Today HealthWealth Summit 2026New Delhi,Oct 29, 2026 16:57 ISTDr Carreen Pakrasi explains why viewing distance, lack of sunlight and reduced blinking may contribute to rising eye problems among children.Children are spending more time looking at screens than ever before, raising concerns about the growing prevalence of myopia, or short-sightedness. But the problem may not be screen time alone. How close a child holds a phone or tablet to their eyes could also matter.Speaking at the India Today HealthWealth Summit 2026 during a session titled Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan, Dr Carreen Pakrasi, an eye expert, said the conversation around myopia needs to move beyond screen hours and focus on viewing distance, outdoor exposure and everyday visual habits.IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE SCREEN“Myopia is the minus number,” Pakrasi explained. “It’s not about the screen; it’s about the distance of the screen.” She said the human body is ergonomically designed for reading and writing at a certain distance. Holding devices too close increases the demand on the eyes’ focusing system, known as accommodation.Pakrasi recalled a surge in myopia during the Covid-19 pandemic, when children studying from home often kept devices on their laps, bringing screens closer to their eyes.WHY SUNLIGHT MATTERS Viewing distance is only part of the picture. Pakrasi also highlighted the importance of outdoor activity and natural daylight for children.She said studies have linked insufficient outdoor exposure with a higher likelihood of developing myopia. Encouraging children to play outside, rather than remain indoors for most of the day, is therefore important. Dr Sudipto Pakrasi and Dr Carreen Pakrasi, both ophthalmologists, joined the India Today HealthWealth Summit 2026 for a session titled Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan, where they discussed advances in eye care and the growing concerns around myopia, screen habits and children's eye health. SCREENS, BLINKING AND DRY EYESProlonged screen use can also contribute to dry eyes. Pakrasi explained that people tend to blink less when concentrating on screens, affecting the tear film that lubricates the eye.She recommended the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives the eyes a break from sustained near work.WHAT PARENTS CAN DOParents can encourage healthier visual habits by keeping devices at a comfortable distance, ensuring children spend time outdoors, taking regular screen breaks and reminding them to blink. If a child struggles to see distant objects or frequently squints, an eye examination is advisable.The takeaway is simple: protecting children's eyesight involves more than counting screen hours. How screens are used, time spent outdoors and early attention to vision changes also matter.Watch the HealthWealth Summit LIVE here: - Ends