Myopia — short sight — is rising sharply in urban populations, and Nigeria is following the pattern seen in East Asia over recent decades. The eye grows too long, so light focuses in front of the retina. It is not simply that more children are being tested. The prevalence is genuinely increasing.
Two factors have the strongest support. First, time outdoors: children who spend more time outside in daylight have lower rates of myopia progression, and the effect appears to be about light intensity rather than activity. Second, near work: prolonged close focusing, especially at very short distances, is associated with progression.
The claim that screens specifically cause myopia is weaker than it is usually stated. The problem with screens is often the distance and duration — held close, for hours — rather than the screen itself. Reading a book at 20cm for three hours has much the same effect. Banning tablets while permitting the same near-work pattern changes little.
High myopia is not just thick glasses. It raises lifetime risk of retinal detachment, macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataract. Slowing progression in childhood reduces those risks for the rest of the patient's life, which is why it is worth taking seriously rather than simply updating the prescription each year.
Atropine eye drops at low concentration slow progression in many children. Orthokeratology and specially designed spectacle lenses have evidence supporting them. Outdoor time is the cheapest intervention with the best evidence base. The right combination depends on the child's age, prescription and rate of change.
If your child is squinting at the board, sitting close to the television, or has a family history of high myopia, get a proper cycloplegic refraction. Bring them outside. And treat the annual eye test as something that matters, not a formality.
This article is general information about eye conditions and does not replace an examination. If you have symptoms, book an assessment.
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