NEW DELHI: Amid an alarming surge in childhood myopia across India and globally, the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) has released comprehensive guidelines recommending annual eye examinations, school vision screenings, and a minimum of two hours spent outdoors daily for children. These guidelines, released during World Myopia Week 2026, aim to equip parents, educators, and healthcare professionals with evidence-based strategies to combat this growing public health challenge.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the guidelines, titled “Prevention and Management of Childhood Myopia,” also reinforce the importance of the well-established 20-20-20 rule. This rule advises children to take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to focus on an object 20 feet away, thereby reducing eye strain.
The initiative comes at a time when myopia, or nearsightedness, is becoming a significant public health concern, with projections suggesting that nearly half of the world’s population could be affected by 2050. In India, the prevalence rates among school-going children have seen a notable increase. Urban studies indicate a myopia prevalence of nearly 14 per cent, while rural areas have witnessed a rise from 4.6 per cent to 6.8 per cent over the last decade. Findings from school screenings conducted by Sun Pharma across 13 cities and 12 states, involving over one lakh children, further underscored the issue, revealing that approximately 13.6 per cent of screened children had myopia, and an additional 27 per cent exhibited abnormal vision requiring attention.
Dr. Jeewan Singh Titiyal, President of the AIOS and former chief of the RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS, Delhi, highlighted that childhood myopia is evolving beyond the need for early spectacle correction. It is increasingly recognised as a serious long-term eye health issue. He explained that high myopia can lead to permanent alterations in the eye’s structure, significantly elevating the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and irreversible vision loss later in life.
Experts attribute the escalating rates of childhood myopia to shifts in lifestyle, including extended screen time, increased academic pressure, reduced outdoor activities, and prolonged periods of near work. The widespread adoption of digital learning environments has also contributed to children spending four to six hours or more daily on screens, often without adequate visual hygiene practices.
Dr. Namrata Sharma, AIOS Chairman of the Scientific Committee and a professor at the RP Centre, AIIMS, Delhi, emphasised the necessity of transitioning from reactive treatment to proactive prevention in managing childhood myopia. She stated that the consensus guidelines provide a structured framework for ophthalmologists and stakeholders to implement evidence-based interventions, enhance awareness, and facilitate timely diagnosis. While anti-myopia therapies can help slow progression, Dr. Sharma noted that prevention through lifestyle modifications remains the most potent strategy.
The guidelines also offer insights into existing myopia control interventions, such as low-dose atropine eye drops, specialised myopia control spectacles, orthokeratology, and soft multifocal contact lenses. However, ophthalmologists caution that these interventions, while capable of slowing myopia progression, do not entirely halt it and must be administered under professional ophthalmic supervision.
Dr. Rohit Saxena of AIIMS Delhi stressed that combating childhood myopia requires a concerted effort involving families, schools, healthcare systems, and policymakers. He advocated for school environments that promote outdoor exposure and healthier visual habits, while urging parents to monitor screen dependency and ensure balanced lifestyles for their children. Ensuring adequate sleep, nutrition, and physical activity is also crucial. Early diagnosis and timely management are vital for improving outcomes and protecting children from avoidable visual impairment and future sight-threatening complications.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
