The increased screen time due to online classes in the pandemic has led to an increase in eye-related problems among school-going children, say eye specialists. Doctors say the prolonged hours in front of the screen have resulted in more cases of the onset and progression of myopia (near-sightedness) and squint (the eyes look in different directions) among other eye-related problems.

“We have seen an increase in myopia cases during the pandemic. I have observed an almost 30% increase in such cases during this pandemic,” said Dr Sagar Kataria, ophthalmologist, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central. He said there is an equal proportion of rise in other eye complaints like eye pain, fatigue, asthenopia (eye strain), inability to sit before computers for long hours, dryness, redness and irritation even in the adult population.