The College of Opticians and Optometrists of the Valencian Community warns of the "worrying" increase in cases of myopia in the school population and the "significant impact" it can have on their school performance and well-being, since more than 80 percent of learning is through vision.
"We talk about mental health, which is fundamental, but we must also talk about visual health because we live in a very visual world," underlines the president of the collegiate entity, Andrés Gené, in statements to EFE, who highlights the need to carry out Periodic check-ups at an early age to detect possible eye problems.
According to the latest data from the White Paper on Visual Health, 37% of the general population is affected by myopia, eight points more than in 2019, before the covid pandemic, says Gené, who echoes the possibility that That percentage could reach 50% in the coming years.
"The main problem with myopia is that until you teach him that he can see better when you put glasses on him and he is aware that he can see better, he thinks that everyone sees like that," he points out, adding that, in addition to myopia , other visual problems must be taken into account such as astigmatism, with a prevalence of 35%, or hyperopia, whose incidence is somewhat lower.
Gené emphasizes that myopia is considered "the pandemic of the 21st century at a visual level" and that it can affect not only the child's school performance "but their professional future", since many of them cannot develop "their maximum academic potential." , and remember that 20% of cases of school failure have a visual cause. The 20-20-20 rule
According to Gené, the use of digital screens "in itself is not bad, but everything in its proper measure"; The problem that exists in the use of mobile phones, screens or video games "is the hours spent in a very close environment, which could increase myopia", and highlights the need to apply the 20-20-20 rule to reduce fatigue visual.
"It means that every 20 minutes you should rest for 20 seconds, look into the distance to relax your vision and blink 20 times to lubricate the eye well and so that the tears are distributed correctly," he explains, insisting that "periodic breaks" should be taken. and do not bring the devices too close to your eyes.
It is also necessary to set a limit of use, indicates Andrés Gené, who believes that a child under 10 years old should not use technology continuously for more than two hours throughout the day: "More than half an hour would not be good."
He also highlights the importance of going outside to play and getting sunlight, since it reduces the risk of myopia progression along with other treatments such as contact lenses or some medication, because if it increases too much, "the increase the risk factors for developing future ocular pathologies. Periodic reviews
After highlighting that 30% of the population does not have their eyes checked regularly, Gené highlights to EFE the need to raise awareness of the importance of periodic check-ups, and warns that when they do some screening at a school "it is detected that more 50% of children may have visual problems.
Hence the importance of preventing and educating parents and teachers so that, in the event of the slightest suspicion - seeing that the minor is getting too close to the television or the blackboard, tilting his head or rubbing his eyes habitually -, the minor is referred. to the optometrist to assess his abilities.
In the Visual Health Plan promoted and financed by the collegiate entity, to which 150 optometrists have joined and at the moment about thirty schools for free, an important piece is the talks with parents and teachers so that they are able to detect if The minor may have an eye problem.
Gené believes that eye examinations should be common in schools and that the administration should be responsible for them, and points out that with 200 optometrists in public health - now there are only 32 in the entire Valencian Community - it is They could do these regulated annual screenings.
