Experts are warning the rapid increase in vision problems among Australian children may be linked to the rise in screen time. 

As the new school year approaches, parents are strongly advised to include eye tests in their back-to-school preparations, as new data concerns optometrists.

Perth mother Shelley Bernstein has made eye tests an annual routine before her kids start each school year. 

Their optometrist detected the need for glasses in both of her daughters.

“It just makes the world of difference if your kid can read easily or see the board easily,” Shelley said.

Data released by Bupa Optical unveils a startling statistic: 27 per cent of children tested in 2022 were diagnosed with Myopia, commonly known as short-sightedness. 

This figure represents a significant jump compared to a separate survey conducted in 2018, which found only 15 per cent of parents reported their children having the condition.

Optometrists attribute this alarming trend to children spending excessive time on digital devices and less time engaged in outdoor activities. 

“Usually mobile phones are a lot more worse for myopia because they are a lot closer to the device and the closer they are to the device, the more strain they put on the eye,” optometrist Jean Cheng said.

“And being exposed to natural sunlight has been shown to be beneficial to reduce progression of myopia.”

It is feared a substantial number of childhood myopia cases remain undiagnosed, as approximately 30 per cent of Australian children have never had an eye test.

“It’s very easy, it’s fully covered by medicare – it’s pretty inexpensive even if you need to buy the glasses,” Bernstein said.