Reel Mania Is Blinding Kids! Ophthalmologists Sound Alarm on Eye Health Crisis

India’s leading ophthalmologists are raising red flags over a surging threat to children’s vision: the relentless craze for short-video reels.

As kids glue their eyes to smartphones for hours, chasing trends on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, experts warn of a looming eye health crisis marked by soaring rates of myopia, digital eye strain, and long-term damage.

A 2023 AIIMS study revealed that over 13% of Indian schoolchildren are now myopic—double the figure from a decade ago—linking the spike to excessive screen time. Pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Siddarth Kesarwani from Mumbai’s JNR Children Eye Care Clinic notes that the blue light emitted by screens, absorbed more by young eyes, is a key culprit.

“This generation faces progressive myopia from early schooling and endless scrolling, with less outdoor play,” he cautions, pointing to risks like macular degeneration.

The reel obsession, fueled by the pandemic’s shift to online learning and entertainment, has slashed outdoor time critical for eye development. Dr. Ramesh Kekunnaya of LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad warns, “Overuse of smartphones isn’t just triggering myopia—it’s disrupting sleep and behavior too.”

Symptoms like blurred vision, headaches, and kids sitting closer to screens are telltale signs, says Dr. Jitendra Jethani from Baroda.

Ophthalmologists urge parents to cap screen time, push outdoor activities, and mandate eye check-ups from age three. With myopia projected to hit 50% globally by 2050, India’s reel mania could blindside its kids—unless action is taken now.