A staggering 93% of children in Dhaka experience blurred vision while 78% suffer from dry or sore eyes as a result of prolonged screen exposure, according to a new study by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).
Dr Shahria Hafiz Kakon, one of the authors of the study, told Dhaka Tribune: “During the Covid-19 lockdown, we handed children mobile phones to keep them engaged. Even though the pandemic ended four years ago, we still have not moved away from this dependency.”
Shahria warned that this overdependence on screens is also taking a toll on children’s physical and mental health.
The study, conducted among 420 children aged six to 14 in Dhaka, paints a worrying picture of modern childhood in the digital age.
How much screen time is safe for a child?
A striking finding in the study is that there is little difference between supervised and unsupervised screen time.
Shahria attributed this to a lack of parental awareness. “This is because parents do not know how much screen time is appropriate for their children.”
The study found that children spend an average of four hours in front of a screen.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), screen time should be limited based on a child's age to support healthy development.
For infants under one year old, screen time is not recommended at all.
Children aged one should also avoid screen exposure entirely, while two-year-olds should have no more than one hour of screen time per day, ideally even less.
For children aged three to four, the recommended limit remains a maximum of one hour per day.
How screens harm the eyes
Dr Md Bulbul Aktar, senior consultant ophthalmologist at Al-Noor Eye Hospital, explained the physiological impact of screen use.
“When children use a screen close to their eyes, the convexity of the lens increases. The continuous contraction of these muscles puts strain on their eyes,” Bulbul told Dhaka Tribune.
He also pointed out that not all screens are equally harmful. “TV screens are the least damaging, followed by desktops, laptops, tablets, and finally mobile phones, which are the most harmful due to their proximity to the eyes and unregulated usage.”
Bulbul expressed concern that some schools are assigning homework online, giving children another reason to stay glued to screens.
Coaching centres offering online classes are also contributing to this trend, he added.
Teachers’ role in early detection
Bulbul said most children who come for an eye checkup are referred by their school teachers. “School teachers can identify eye problems in their students.”
He advised school teachers to observe whether students are squinting, having to copy from a classmate's notebook, or moving closer to the board when taking notes.
These are signs that there may be an issue with their eyesight, he said.
“At the same time, parents should ensure their children have a primary eye checkup at three months of age, an intermediate checkup at two years, and another eye examination at four years before they start school,” Bulbul added.
Shift the focus from screens to interaction
Reducing screen time requires behavioral change, optometrist Bulbul said. “Behavioral change is tough, but it is important for the health of children.”
Meanwhile, Dr Shahria said screens should be turned off before bedtime and parents should also refrain from using them.
She recommended turning off all screens before bedtime and encouraged parents to limit their own screen use.
“Instead of scrolling through Facebook, go outside and play with your child. That is how we can build real bonds. Real-life interaction is true entertainment,” she said.
To replace screen time, Shahria suggested engaging children in outdoor games, physical activities, or indoor games like Ludo and Carrom.
She stressed the importance of quality time over quantity. “We need to increase interaction with our children. Listen to them attentively. Have meaningful conversations.”
She also mentioned that her team is currently planning a follow-up study focusing on possible intervention strategies to reduce screen time among children in Dhaka.