Photo: Canva

Today, ISCA together with 13 civil society and industry organisations spanning healthcare, education, sports, technology, and outdoor sectors, releases a joint policy statement titled “Adapting to the Digital and Sedentary World: Addressing the Growing Crisis of Children’s Eye Health.”

The coalition warns of a growing crisis in children’s eye health across Europe, driven by profound changes in lifestyle and digitalisation. With projections indicating that 50% of European school-leavers could be myopic by 2035, the group is calling for urgent and coordinated action to protect children’s vision and well-being. 

An Increasingly Digitalising World Driving an Eye Health Crisis 
The rise in screen time and near-work activities among children, coupled with declining outdoor time, is fueling an unprecedented surge in myopia rates. Studies show that prolonged exposure to screens at close distances strains developing eyes, while reduced time spent outdoors deprives children of protective exposure to natural light.

Research indicates that just two hours of daily outdoor activity can significantly reduce the risk of developing myopia. Yet lifestyle changes driven by an increasingly screen-focused world are becoming entrenched across Europe, putting millions of children at risk.

The consequences are alarming. Myopia not only affects children’s ability to see clearly but also increases their risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. These conditions can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness, impacting quality of life and placing significant demands on healthcare systems as affected children grow older. 

Far-Reaching Impacts on Families and Society 
Unchecked myopia has wide-ranging implications for children’s physical health, academic performance, emotional well-being, social relationships, and future career opportunities. Academically, children with uncorrected myopia often struggle to see clearly in classrooms, which can hinder learning and lead to feelings of frustration or isolation. Psychologically, they may experience anxiety or lower self-esteem compared to peers with normal vision. Socially, vision impairment can increase vulnerability to bullying and limit participation in activities that require good eyesight.

For families across Europe, managing paediatric myopia often comes with significant out-of-pocket expenses for glasses, contact lenses, or other treatments – costs that are rarely covered comprehensively by public health systems. For example, families in the Netherlands spend approximately €400 million annually on myopia management alone.

The economic burden extends beyond individual households. High myopia and other vision-impairing diseases generate staggering costs for society due to lost productivity and increased healthcare needs. In Spain alone, the total cost of vision-impairing diseases between 2021 and 2030 is projected to reach €99.8 billion – a trend mirrored across other European countries. 

A Call for Coordinated Action 
Despite mounting evidence linking lifestyle factors to the rise in myopia cases and their long-term consequences, policy responses remain insufficient. The coalition urges European policymakers to act now by implementing evidence-based solutions that address both prevention and intervention.

The joint policy statement outlines five key recommendations:

• Improving early intervention and prevention through dedicated public health programmes that include regular vision screenings and educational campaigns to raise awareness about myopia risks and prevention methods.
• Establishing inclusive eye care policies that ensure equitable access to eye exams, corrective measures, and ongoing care for all children, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location.
• Recognising the value of non-formal education and outdoor activity to foster healthy vision habits and overall well-being.
• Promoting eye-friendly learning environments by implementing guidelines for digital device use in schools and encouraging outdoor breaks to reduce prolonged screen time and near-work activities.
• Leveraging technology to encourage real-world exploration and active engagement through innovative apps and platforms that promote outdoor activities and limit excessive screen time. 

Protecting Children’s Vision: A Shared Responsibility
The coalition emphasises that addressing children’s eye health is not only a public health priority but also a matter of upholding the Rights of the Child. By safeguarding children’s vision today, we can ensure their ability to thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and professionally. 
To read the full statement, you can find it here. 

Co-signatories:

• International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)
• European Parents’ Association (EPA)
• World Scouting (WOSM)
• Retina International
• Santen
• Sightsavers
• World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS)
• CloudGuide
• European Society of Ophthalmology
• International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA)
• European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education (ECSWE)
• Learning through Landscapes
• 5Rights Foundation
• Human Change

Observer:

• World Health Organisation (Europe Region)