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20 January, 2026
One in four children now short-sighted as screen time replaces outdoor play
Parents heading into the 2026 school year are being warned a quiet eyesight problem may already be sitting in their child’s classroom seat.
Parents heading into the 2026 school year are being warned a quiet eyesight problem may already be sitting in their child’s classroom seat.
New data shows 27 per cent of Australian children who had an eye test last year were diagnosed with myopia, or short-sightedness — a condition optometrists say is accelerating as screens replace outdoor play.
Health experts say time spent outside remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of myopia, yet research suggests many children are spending less time outdoors than ever before.
Separate studies show around half of Australian children report they are not allowed to play outside alone or with friends at various times, while one in four say there are not enough opportunities to play outdoors or socialise.
Optometrist Karen Makin said the trend has worsened since the COVID pandemic, with lifestyle changes persisting long after lockdowns ended.
“We’re seeing more parents come in because their children are struggling in the classroom, not because they’re disruptive, but because they simply can’t see properly,” she said.
“Genetics matter, but what we’re seeing again and again is more screen time and far less exposure to natural light.”
Ms Makin said outdoor play helps regulate eye growth by reducing eye strain, improving contrast sensitivity and stimulating dopamine release in the retina.
A 2025 study by Macquarie University found secondary school students were averaging about nine hours a day on screens, while primary school students were spending around six hours.
That compares starkly with government guidelines recommending no more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day for children aged five to 17.
“Schoolwork increasingly involves devices, but what’s really concerning is how recreational time has followed the same path,” Ms Makin said.
“Gaming, social media and streaming are replacing time spent riding bikes, kicking a ball or just being outside.”
She said vision problems can be difficult for parents to detect, particularly when children assume blurred vision is normal.
“Unlike a broken arm, kids don’t always complain about eyesight. That’s why annual eye tests are so important,” she said.
Treatment options to slow the progression of myopia include specialised glasses, contact lenses and orthokeratology — where hard contact lenses are worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea.
But Ms Makin said prevention remained the goal.
“We’d much rather children never reach the point of needing myopia management,” she said. “Sometimes the best prescription is telling kids to put the devices down and go outside.”
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