Skip to main content
Home The New Paper
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team

Popular

  • COURT & CRIME
  • Food & Drink
Health

Protecting eye health during circuit breaker

Protecting eye health during circuit breaker
Singapore is top in the world for the prevalence of childhood myopia for those aged seven to nine. PHOTO: PLANO

More people buying glasses with blue light protection as screen time grows

Nur Hidaya Jamal
May 11, 2020 06:00 am
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements

Singapore is number one in the world for the prevalence of childhood myopia for those aged seven to nine, on top of having one of the highest rates of myopia globally.

And those statistics could worsen because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Preliminary findings by Plano, the local health tech company behind the science-based eye-health app, showed an increase in screen time of almost 20 per cent for both children and adults during this period.

Associate Professor Mohamed Dirani, Plano's founding managing director, told The New Paper: "This is particularly worrying given that literature has found that even two-year-olds are already spending at least two hours in front of screens, with screen time increasing to more than seven hours in teenagers.

"Sleep duration has also decreased during this period, with children sleeping almost four hours less each week."

With more families working from home and children going on online classes, they end up looking at their screens more.

After one year of Covid in Singapore: Case 38
Singapore

A year on, recovered virus patient still can't taste or smell

Jan 22, 2021

Related Stories

Cargo drivers entering Singapore to take antigen rapid tests

Safeguards, vaccines key to Covid-19 fight

International leisure travel not likely this year: Gan Kim Yong

Dr Dirani said: "Screen-based activities constitute a new form of near-work, and children who use devices tend to do so indoors for long uninterrupted periods with poor posture and at viewing distances closer than conventional books.

"Furthermore, as screen time increases, children are spending less time on outdoor activities.

" This is worrying as outdoor activity has been shown to have a protective effect on myopia development and progression, with research finding that two hours of outdoor activity each day reduces the risk and progression of myopia by 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

"As such, children who are excessively using their smart devices are at higher risk of developing myopia, which, in some cases, may lead to high myopia, a severe case of myopia that can also lead to blinding eye conditions like glaucoma and retinal detachment."


Protect your eye with SmartBuyGlasses and get 50% off on your first purchase


With everyone advised to stay home during the circuit breaker, parents should take this opportunity to manage their child's screen time, myopia and Internet safety.

FREE TILL JUNE 1

Plano is offering the premium version of its mobile app - which includes a time management function in line with World Health Organisation guidelines, digital eye health and progress reports, app blocking and remote locking functions - to all Singaporean families for free from now to June 1.

Plano has also brought in almost 10 per cent of optometrists in Singapore onto its Plano Eyecheck platform, which connects users to their nearest optometrist and allows them to locate, book and manage appointments.

When contacted by TNP, optical shops such as the Owndays Singapore chain, Visio Optical, Foptics and I-Vision - which are allowed to operate by appointment only during the circuit breaker - said more customers have been buying products that protect them from blue light, which is emitted from screens of smart devices and can be harmful with prolonged exposure.

A spokesman for Foptics said: "Many have (also) bought PC glasses for their children who don't need glasses but are engaged in home-based learning."

Mr Donovan Chua, an optometrist at I-Vision, said: "This month, we've had 10 customers with children whose myopia has grown by 75 to 100 degrees."

Visio Optical has also seen more customers in their late 30s to early 40s. Its spokesman said: "This age group is experiencing presbyopia-related (long-sightedness) problems.

"Now that they have to spend more time on their computers, they will need to use lenses that help them see near objects, such as progressive lenses."

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now

coronavirus

Nur Hidaya Jamal

Read articles by Nur Hidaya Jamal
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

Singapore

Mum killed in crash on way home to celebrate with son

Jan 19, 2021
After one year of Covid in Singapore: Case 38
Singapore

A year on, recovered virus patient still can't taste or smell

Jan 22, 2021
ICA officers find contraband cigarettes in God of Fortune figurines
Singapore

Thousands of duty unpaid cigarettes found in CNY figurines on lorry: ICA

Jan 18, 2021
Home
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contact TNP
  • About SPH
  • Privacy Statement
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Member Terms & Conditions
  • Website Terms & Conditions
SPH Digital News Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E