Now Reading: The Hindu webinar on children’s eye health on August 30
-
01
The Hindu webinar on children’s eye health on August 30
The Hindu will host a free webinar on Children's Eye Health and Safety Month on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The session will focus on refractive errors…
The Hindu will host a free webinar on Children's Eye Health and Safety Month on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The session will focus on refractive errors in children, especially the rising concern over myopia, and examine whether increased screen time and less outdoor activity are affecting children's vision.
The discussion will cover early warning signs, the importance of timely eye screening, and measures to prevent or slow myopia progression. Guest speakers include ophthalmologist Vasumathy Vedantham and consultant paediatric ophthalmologist Vasudha Kemmanu. The webinar will be moderated by Athira Elssa Johnson.
Indian Opinion Analysis
India has one of the highest rates of childhood myopia globally, with some urban studies showing prevalence exceeding 20 per cent among schoolchildren. The Ministry of Health's National Programme for Control of Blindness recommends vision screening at school entry and again in middle school, but compliance remains patchy. The webinar's focus on screen time aligns with the World Health Organization's 2019 guidelines urging no more than one hour of daily screen time for children under five. A practical next step for parents is to check if their child's school conducts the mandated annual eye screening under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, which covers vision defects.
The session is free and open to all, with registration via QR code or link.
Source: thehindu.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
