CloudGuide has joined forces with leading stakeholders from the fields of healthcare, education, sports, the outdoors, and technology to address the critical challenges facing children's eye health in Europe. In a joint policy statement, we highlight the urgent need to prioritise children's eye health, as projections suggest that 50% of European school-leavers will be myopic by 2035.
Recent decades have witnessed substantial changes driven by digitalisation, with far-reaching consequences for children’s eye health. Despite many positives, higher digitalisation also comes with significant challenges to mitigate. Today, children and young people spend significantly more time in front of screensand less time outdoorscompared to previous generations, which has implications for healthy eye development. We urge decision-makers to contribute towards healthy digitalisation andaddress the impact on children's eye health at policy level.
The rising concern of progressive paediatric myopia needs stronger actions, as it often leads to severe eye health issues later in life, including irreversible vision impairmentand possibly blindness. Beyond the immediate health impacts, the consequences of unchecked myopia are far-reaching, affecting children's educational outcomes, mental well-being, social integration, and future career prospects. The economic burdenon families as well as healthcare systems is also substantial.
Our statement sets out recommendations to meet these challenges. These include improving early intervention and prevention through dedicated public health programmes and regular vision screenings for children, and establishing inclusive eye care policies to bolster access to medical care and health equity in Europe. Additionally, we call for promoting eye-friendly learning environments in schools and educational settings, raising awareness about digital device use among educators, parents, and children. We also stress the importance of increasing recognition of the value of non-formal education as well as embracing healthy digitalisation and eye-friendly digital solutions, by incentivising tech companies to develop digital solutions that help prevent eye issues and promote active engagement with the real environment.
Addressing children's eye health is not just a medical concern. It is a fundamental aspect of ensuring the Rights of the Child. Europe needs to take action now in order to mitigate the rising crisis in eye health. Read the full statement and join us in creating an eye-friendly future: https://www.cloudguide.me/l/childrens_eye_health.