Experts have warned that the increase in the amount of time children spend in front of screens has led to severe eye diseases in children as young as six, typically seen in adults. For example, dry eye disease occurs when tears fail to provide adequate moisture to the eyes. This condition usually affects people aged between 50 and 60, and if left untreated, it can be extremely painful with symptoms that may include corneal erosion, redness, and sensitivity. Those suffering from it have compared their experience to that of chopping onions, with a constant burning sensation.
Sarah Varant, an optometrist and dry eye specialist, stated that she has started seeing elementary school children coming to her clinic suffering from this condition. She partially attributed the rise in this phenomenon to the increase in screen time, as looking at screens significantly reduces the blink rate. She added, "When I opened my practice 15 years ago, there was not a single child with this condition. But in the last five or six years, I have seen more and more children with dry eye. The youngest patient I have seen was six years old, which was unheard of before."
She also noted that the prevalence of makeup use among children could lead to increased eye problems. If left untreated, these issues could cause irreversible damage to some tear-producing glands in the eyelids. Dr. Matthew Olsen, from Thea Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures products to help treat dry eye, stated that the disease has been shown to have a "significant impact" on quality of life. He said, "We need more awareness of the importance of caring for our eyes among all age groups."
