A RECENT feature in a national daily noted that cases of Myopia (shortsightedness) among school-aged children in Fiji are on the rise. As eye-care professionals, we attribute this shift to greater screen time, less time spent outside, and heavier academic demands.
Meanwhile, eye-screening initiatives in 2025 have revealed concerning trends. According to a nationwide school-screening program, about one in 10 children were diagnosed with a refractive error that caused blurred vision. The screening team — part of a visiting mission including overseas specialists — also noted that many adults required vision correction. (Source: Fiji Broadcasting Corporation)
Thus, spending long periods on digital devices without taking breaks or maintaining proper posture can contribute to eye strain, tiredness, and may worsen existing vision problems over time.
What’s really causing it — screens or lifestyle?
Despite recent successes — such as the elimination of Trachoma as a public health problem in Fiji (a major public-health milestone achieved in 2025) — the country still faces longstanding vision risks.
We as eye-care expertise, emphasize that screens themselves are not a single villain. Instead, several changes in behavior and environment combine to create risk:
- More near-work and longer continuous viewing — a research article published on Jama Network 2025, shows prolonged near focus (reading or staring at a device close up) strains the accommodation system of the eye and is linked to myopia progression which clearly shows high risk of having myopia pandemic with increase in digital screen time in near future.
- Reduced outdoor time — natural daylight plays a protective role in eye development; less outdoor play is associated with higher myopia rates. The recent articles published in The Guardian (British daily newspaper) report that every hour young people spend in front of screens increases their chance of being shortsighted, researchers have found, with experts warning young children should have limited use of devices and spend more time outdoors.
- Poor comfort design and lighting — glare, improper screen height, and bad posture worsen both visual strain and musculoskeletal symptoms like pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced movement in muscles, joints and bones.
The bulk of symptoms stem from how we use devices — duration, viewing distance, blink rate and lighting — rather than the blue wavelength itself.
The convergence of increased screen use (in urban zones and among school children) and persistent structural barriers to eye-care access (in rural Fiji) presents a growing public-health challenge. Screens and digital devices are not going away — but without proper awareness and access to vision care, many may risk avoidable vision problems.
What we can — and should — do now
Here are some practical evidence-informed steps for Fijian families, communities, and policy-makers to tackle this emerging threat:
- Limit continuous near-work: Use break routines such as the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds) to relax focusing muscles and encourage blinking. While not perfect, regular breaks reduce symptoms.
- Encourage outdoor activity for children — balancing digital learning or screen time with outdoor play can help safeguard healthy eye development. Daily 3-4 hours outdoor exposure will help to slow down myopia progression in children.
- Improve ergonomics: Position screens so the top of the monitor is at or slightly below eye level, keep the device at a comfortable arm’s length, and adjust ambient lighting to reduce glare.
- Routine eye checks: Regular eye examinations remain essential — especially for children, those with family histories of myopia, or people with persistent symptoms. Early detection allows timely interventions.
- Support regular eye screening programs in schools and communities, especially in rural and remote areas where access to eye clinics is limited.
- Raise awareness about eye-health risks related to digital lifestyle, but also about traditional risks — cataracts, diabetes, UV exposure, and ensure that vision care is integrated with general health outreach.
- Improve accessibility of eye care services — through conducting regular base mobile clinics, outreach programs, and partnerships between government services and NGOs (especially for remote island communities).
A wake-up call — but also a chance to act
If current trends continue, the prevalence of myopia will climb further, with wide social and economic consequences. But 2025 also shows promise: better population surveillance, emerging clinical interventions, and stronger public conversation about screen habits could together slow or stabilize the trend.
For communities, the message is straightforward: screens are integral to modern life, but how we use them matters. Combining reasonable device limits, outdoor time for children, ergonomic workplaces, and accessible vision care offers a practical road-map to protect sight in an increasingly digital world.
With awareness, accessible services, and community effort, Fiji can steer toward a future where the nation’s eyes stay healthy — even in a digital age.
