Screen Time in Schools and Rising Eye Health Problems

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Over 150 clinicians in England have raised concerns that extensive screen use during the school day may be contributing to physical and developmental health problems in children. Their open letter to government officials highlighted a troubling trend: studies tracking 5.4 million participants worldwide documented an increase in short-sightedness from approximately 24% in 1990 to nearly 36% by 2023. The clinicians argue that this rise cannot be attributed solely to genetic factors, and they point out that many children now spend more time on screens in classrooms than health recommendations suggest for a full day.