Screen Overuse To Leave 70% of European Children Nearsighted

By 2050, 70% of European children could make myopia owed to excessive surface clip connected mobile devices and tablets, according to alarming caller information presented astatine the 89th Thessaloniki International Fair.

Pediatric ophthalmologist Nikos Nitsas, President of the Thessaloniki Medical Association, issued the informing during a seminar titled “Impact of Gaming, Internet and Mobile Devices connected Children and Adolescents.”

Nitsas identified 2 superior consequences of prolonged surface use: integer oculus strain (symptoms see dryness, tearing, burning sensations, and headaches) and rapidly expanding nearsightedness owed to changeless close-range focus. He emphasized that Greece’s deficiency of standardized preventive imaginativeness screening exacerbates the problem.

Medical interventions similar specialized glasses, interaction lenses, and low-dose atropine drops – approved by the European Medicines Agency – connection promising solutions, though blue-light filters were noted arsenic scientifically unproven.

The adept recommended:

• Children instrumentality surface breaks each 30 minutes

• Adults travel the 20-20-20 regularisation (every 20 minutes, look astatine thing 20 feet distant for 20 seconds)

• Maintain astatine slightest 30cm region from screens

• Ensure regular outdoor airy exposure

Fellow talker Efterpi Pavlidou, pediatric neurologist astatine the University of Ioannina, revealed startling usage data:

• 40-60% of Greek infants (12-24 months) already usage screens 30-60 minutes daily

• Children aged 2-6 mean 4-6 regular surface hours

• Teens scope 7-10 hours daily, with 100% exhibiting overuse patterns

This contradicts WHO and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommending zero surface clip for 0-2 year-olds and maximum 1-3 hours for older children (not daily).

Psychiatrist George Floros of Aristotle University highlighted shifting addiction patterns: “While gaming antecedently affected mostly boys, societal media present dominates – progressively impacting girls.” He warned that algorithmic plan techniques reflector gambling mechanics, keeping children engaged for advertizing revenue.

All experts emphasized that this isn’t simply a aesculapian contented but a societal one, requiring coordinated EU and nationalist argumentation responses alongside parental acquisition done authorities integer tools.