Chennai: “There has been a five times year-on-year increase in the number of ‘acute onset comitant esotropia’, a sudden and unexpected outbreak of ‘squint eye’ cases, among children in the city in the past two years. Equally alarming is the 100% myopia progression and 25 per cent increase in the onset of myopia every year in the past two years,” according to Dr Manjula Jayakumar, senior pediatric ophthalmologist, Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, Chennai.
The main causes are increased screen time and lifestyle changes of children characterised by a lack of adequate exposure to sunlight and reduced physical activities.
Interacting with the media in a virtual press meet, organised by Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, on the occasion of Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month, observed every August, Dr Manjula Jayakumar, said, “There has been an unprecedented increase in the number of acute onset comitant esotropia among the pediatric population during the recent pandemic years. In Chennai, we get to see one or two cases in a year before Covid-19 but today there are more than 10 cases. The progression of myopia has been another cause of concern. We find nearly 100 per cent progression among children. The onset of myopia has also increased by 25 per cent.”