National Eye Health Week: We spoke to our local optometrists about how screens are impacting our eye health

 

Did you know that children’s ability to see in the distance has fallen sharply? Poor eyesight in childhood can have a lifelong impact, and today over 2 million people in the UK live with sight loss.

What’s the cause? Screens. 

We know screen time can be unavoidable sometimes — but too much screen time is leading to a rise in short-sightedness (myopia), where children are struggling to see in the distance.

This National Eye Health Week (22nd–28th September 2025), we had a chat with our local optometrist, Dr Mike Dearlove, at Girlington Specsavers, to get a better understanding of what we can do to protect children’s eye health. Read some insights from our conversation below:

“1 in 3 people around the world are already myopic, and by 2050, that number could be half the population.”

Where can we start?

It all starts with more time outdoors and less time on our screens. Time spent outdoors can really help delay the onset of myopia. Currently children are spending an average of 4.5 hours a day on screens and ONLY around 40 minutes a day is spent outside. 

How to support parents to reduce screen time and go outdoors 

Encourage families to go outdoors more, even if they can’t find time for the recommended 2 hours a day, the natural light outdoors is so much better for children’s eyes. 

Remember - Less Screen Time, More Play Time! Children copy what they see, support parents by talking about the importance of putting down devices in front of their children and playing with them instead. Play is fun for everyone and doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. 

Activities like our 50 Things to Do #34 Woodland Wandering, #48 Natural Art, #49 Grass Gazing are simple but fun ways to keep children’s eyes healthy. 

Talk to parents about getting their eyes tested regularly (every 2 years), especially if children are showing signs or issues with their eyes. 

Talk to parents about screen habits, explain that changes can start small.

Try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

We’re taking steps at 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five to promote healthy screen habits — and we’d love for you to join us!

If you work with parents and want to find out more about ways to support parents in reducing children's screen time, take a look at our Less Screen Time More Play Time resources for early years settings - https://50thingstodo.org/less-screen-time-more-play-time/support-conversations-parents