Filtered By: Lifestyle
Lifestyle

Excessive gadget use, reading increase risk of myopia in children


 

Children who love to read or who use gadgets excessively have an increased risk of developing myopia, a report by Raffy Tima on Balitanghali said on Friday.

Citing the national blindness survey by the Philippine Eye Research Institute, the report said that one out of 10 kindergarten pupils have myopia and Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said that this is an alarming statistic.  

"Hanggang lumaki sila hanggang maging high school at tumataas 'yong number of children na may myopia. So medyo nakakaalarma din siya kasi nga dadami ang mga bata na mangangaliangan ng salamin, na magiging malabo ang paningin nila," he said.

At the young age of four, Stephen "Pogi" Azores was diagnosed with astigmatism.

The first grader sits at the back of the class and he has to move to a seat closer to the front so that he could see the board. "Nasa dulo po ang upuan ko eh, hindi ko po mabasa 'yong ano, sinusulat ko po. Lumalapit na lang po ako, sinasabi ko po sa teacher ko lalapit na lang po ako," he said.

His mother, Diana, said that if he doesn't stop spending too much time on computers and tablets, his condition might worsen and develop into myopia or nearsightedness.

Being a single mom, Diana got used to handing Pogi a tablet to amuse himself. Now, he is not allowed to use any gadgets.

"'Wag gawing nanny 'yong mga tablet, 'yong screen, 'yong laptop ganon, para lang matigilan silang umiyak o mag-tantrums," she said.

The Department of Health (DOH) also parents against relying on gadgets to babysit their children. 

"Sana at least one hour of outdoor activity everyday, meaning palaruin natin sa labas ang mga bata hindi nakakulong sa bahay, naeexercise yung kanilang katawan saka yung kanilang paningin," he said. — Jessica Bartolome / AT, GMA News

Tags: myopia
LOADING CONTENT