Several children with vision defects do not realize the problem

NAGPUR: Several kids who have eye-related problems do not realize that they are suffering from them. In many cases, even parents are not aware about the problem despite it becoming very serious. Blaming it on excessive use of devices like computers, televisions and mobile phones, experts say that ignorance about vision-related problems is so common that regular and compulsory screenings for kids is necessary.

The discussion was on the sidelines of installation of new team of Nagpur Academy of Ophthalmology, which was attended by some renowned ophthalmologists. Dean of Mumbai's Grant Medical College Dr TP Lahane also shared the results of a survey that he conducted in 1,208 schools of Mumbai that included 7.5 lakh children.

"92,000 of them had specs but didn't realise it. A 1000 of them require surgeries but parents of 756 of them had not realised this need. This rise in vision-related problems can be attributed to excessive use of TV and computers by children," he said. Dr Lahane said that other than the electronic gadgets, it was insufficient consumption of vitamin A that causes several vision-related defects in children which could be satiated with the inclusion of carrot, papaya, drumstick in their diet once a week.

While Dr Lahane said that schools or civic bodies can arrange for regular eye checkups of school going children, head of the ophthalmology department of his college Dr Ragini Parekh believed that parents must assume this responsibility. "Not many of us take our children for eye check ups or any other type of health check up voluntarily. It is only after some problem arises that check ups come to our mind. People have to understand the importance of preventive check ups," she said.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/k38hfqf