PROGRESSION OF MYOPIA IN CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF SCREEN

Abstract

This article sought to analyze the use of screens as a risk factor for the progression of myopia in children, considering the exponential growth of this ametropia in recent years. A search for previous studies was carried out on the Virtual Health Library (BVS) and National Library of Medicine (PubMed) platforms, using the descriptors “myopia”, “children” and “screen time”. The following inclusion criteria were used: articles published between 2019 and 2024, controlled clinical trials and observational studies. Articles that deviated from the proposed theme and texts with restricted access were excluded. A total of 16 articles were selected through the studies analyzed, and it was observed that excessive use of screens is a predisposing factor for myopia, favoring its early onset due to the introduction of these electronic devices into children's routines. However, some of the studies evaluated did not definitively conclude that the use of screens increases the incidence of myopia in children, indicating the need for further studies for more robust evidence. It is concluded that the use of screens, in fact, promotes the early onset of myopia, which can have significant consequences for the future of these children, increasing their predisposition to serious eye diseases.