Why are children getting eyeglasses so early — and what you can do about it?
- Madhukar Dama
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
PART 1: WHY ARE CHILDREN GETTING EYEGLASSES?
1. LACK OF NATURAL LIGHT
Children today spend 90% of their time indoors.
Eyes need sunlight to develop properly.
Sunlight triggers dopamine in the retina — which controls eye growth.
Without it, the eye grows too long — causing myopia (short-sightedness).
> Fact: Just 2 hours a day in natural light can significantly reduce myopia risk.
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2. OVERUSE OF NEAR DEVICES
Phones, tablets, books, laptops — used for hours without breaks.
Eyes get stuck in “near focus mode,” and lose flexibility.
> Think of it like a camera lens that’s only zoomed in — it forgets how to zoom out.
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3. LACK OF DISTANCE FOCUS
Earlier, children played in fields, chased kites, looked at far hills.
Now they stare at a 6-inch screen or a wall.
> Eyes grow to fit what they do — and if they never “look far,” the eye stops growing properly for distance vision.
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4. ARTIFICIAL LIGHT & SLEEP DISTURBANCE
LED lights and screens emit blue light, especially at night.
This delays melatonin, disturbing sleep and retinal repair.
Poor sleep = poor vision development.
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5. POOR DIET & HYDRATION
Vision needs Vitamin A, C, E, zinc, lutein, and water.
Junk food, cola, low water intake, and skipping greens = eye inflammation, dryness, and fatigue.
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6. LACK OF EYEBALL MOVEMENT
In natural play: eyes move in all directions.
On a screen: eyes barely move.
Poor eye movement = weak eye muscles, leading to squint or focusing problems.
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7. GENETIC FACTORS WORSENED BY ENVIRONMENT
Yes, genes matter. But they are just a starting point.
Today’s habits activate bad genes faster, making kids dependent on glasses earlier than ever.
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PART 2: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD’S EYES
1. SEND THEM OUT — DAILY
2–3 hours of outdoor play in natural light
Morning sun is best (before 10am)
> “More trees, less screens” should be your motto.
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2. 20-20-20 RULE
Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break, look at something 20 feet away
This resets eye focus
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3. DISTANCE GAZING GAMES
Ask them to look far and spot:
A bird on a tree
A shape in the clouds
Letters on a distant shop board
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4. BLINKING EXERCISES
Many children don’t blink enough while using screens.
Teach them to:
Blink slowly 10 times every few minutes
Splash cold water on eyes 3–4 times a day
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5. REMOVE SCREENS BEFORE BED
No screens 1–2 hours before sleep
Use dim amber or red night lights if needed
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6. NUTRITION FOR EYE HEALTH
Include:
Green leafy vegetables (spinach, moringa)
Yellow/orange vegetables (carrots, pumpkin)
Nuts & seeds (almonds, flax, sunflower)
Amla, turmeric, triphala occasionally
Hydration: 6–8 glasses of water/day
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7. EYE YOGA / PALMING
Rub palms and cover eyes (no pressure) for 1 minute
Gentle circular eye movement (up-down-left-right-diagonal)
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8. MINIMIZE UNNECESSARY PRESCRIPTIONS
Many kids are given glasses after a single test
Always retest after 6–12 months
Use pinhole tests and vision therapy before finalizing permanent lenses
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SUMMARY QUOTE
“Children don’t need glasses — they need grass, sunlight, distance, and blinking. Let them look up from their screens and see the sky again.”
—
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HEALING DIALOGUE
Scene:
A simple village courtyard. A mother, Reema (35), arrives with her 8-year-old son Aarav, who has just been prescribed eyeglasses. They visit Madhukar, the barefoot hermit.
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Reema:
Madhukar ji, the doctor said Aarav needs glasses. He's just 8.
Madhukar (gently):
What does Aarav do all day?
Reema:
He studies online. Plays on phone. Watches YouTube. Doesn’t go out much — the sun is too harsh.
Madhukar (nods):
And his eyes have become weak, not because they’re sick — but because they are bored.
Aarav:
I don’t like going outside. There’s nothing to do.
Madhukar:
Outside, the world blinks and moves. Trees sway. Birds jump. Clouds chase each other.
Inside, only your screen moves — but your eyes don’t.
Reema:
But we thought giving him the best — AC, screens, early learning — would make him sharp.
Madhukar:
You’ve given him early dullness instead.
A caged bird with colored feathers — still cannot fly.
Reema (tearing up):
So what should we do now?
Madhukar:
Begin again.
Let him run barefoot.
Let him look far.
Let the sun touch his skin.
Let boredom come — and let nature fill it.
And do this with him, not just for him.
Aarav:
Can my eyes become okay again?
Madhukar:
Yes. If you play with the clouds, blink like birds, and look at things that don’t fit in your hand.
Reema:
But what if it’s too late?
Madhukar:
It’s only too late when the soul gives up.
Eyes are just servants — they obey where the soul looks.
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CHARLES BUKOWSKI-STYLE POEM
“SCREENS DON’T BLINK”
the kid
is 8
but he walks like he's 80
eyes stuck
in a 5-inch box
that taught him to blink less
feel less
move less.
they call it
“vision correction”
but what it really is
is
vision surrendered.
once he chased balls,
fireflies, shadows.
now he chases
pixels.
he's seen
a thousand cartoons
but never
a real star.
his mom says:
he’s learning so much.
i say:
he’s forgetting how to see.
when he looks up
the sun hurts.
the wind stings.
the real world
feels foreign
because he was taught
to love glass more than grass.
they'll give him lenses,
labels,
laziness,
but what he really needs
is light,
dust,
a scratch on the knee
and a sky too big
to download.
—
