Every year, as the long summer break ends and children return to school, eye clinics across the UAE see a familiar rise in young patients. More children are coming in with blurred vision, headaches, and eye strain — and they are getting younger every year. Doctors say the problem is bigger than screens alone. The real issue, they warn, is that children are simply not spending enough time outside.
It Is Not Just About Screens
Most parents blame smartphones and tablets when their child starts squinting. Screens do play a role — research shows that every extra hour of daily screen time raises the risk of developing myopia by 21 per cent. But UAE doctors say screens are only part of the story. Dr Alaa Khalil Arrat, Specialist Ophthalmologist at Burjeel Medical Center, Al Shamkha, says the bigger concern is what screens are replacing. When children are on devices, they are not going outside. And outdoor time, with its natural light and distance vision, is the single most protective factor against myopia. She points to the Covid-19 lockdowns as a turning point — when outdoor activity dropped sharply, myopia rates in children rose just as fast. If your child needs an eye check-up or specialist review, it helps to know your options — take a look at the full list of Hospitals In Dubai to find the right facility near you.
Children Are Developing Myopia Much Earlier
The age at which children develop short-sightedness has shifted significantly in recent years. Dr Arrat says that around 30 years ago, myopia typically appeared in children aged eight to ten. Today, she regularly sees children aged five or six — sometimes younger — presenting with the same symptoms. Children under ten are especially at risk because their visual systems are still growing. The earlier myopia sets in, the more years it has to progress, which raises the risk of serious eye problems in adulthood. A 2024 meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that childhood myopia prevalence rose from around 24 per cent in the 1990s to 36 per cent between 2020 and 2023. By 2050, researchers estimate that nearly 740 million children worldwide could be affected. During your child’s eye appointment, managing the cost of consultations or medicines is easier when your bank account is in order — a quick FAB Balance Check Online keeps your finances on track without a branch visit.
The UAE Climate Makes It Harder
In most parts of the world, encouraging children to play outside is straightforward. In the UAE, the summer heat makes it genuinely difficult. Dr Arrat says that when temperatures reach extreme levels for months at a time, children stay indoors — and indoors means screens. This is why she sees a clear uptick every August in young patients presenting with blurred distance vision and eye strain, right after the long summer break when outdoor time was almost zero. Dr Syed Muhammad Saad, Specialist Ophthalmologist at International Modern Hospital Dubai, says parents often notice their child sitting too close to the television or holding a device inches from their face. Common early signs include frequent headaches, blinking too often, and difficulty reading the classroom board from a normal distance. He urges parents not to wait for visible signs before booking an eye test.
What Doctors Are Telling Parents to Do
The advice from all three doctors is consistent and simple. Dr Vaibhav Sharma, Specialist Ophthalmologist at Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai, says the numbers are hard to ignore — myopia is on track to affect half the world’s population by 2050. But he also says the solution is not complicated. The single most effective thing parents can do is get their children outside for at least two hours every day. Natural light is the only intervention consistently proven to slow the onset of myopia in children. Beyond outdoor time, doctors recommend limiting passive screen use for toddlers, setting regular visual breaks during device use, and scheduling routine eye examinations even if no symptoms are visible. The goal is not to remove screens entirely but to make sure screen time never fully replaces outdoor activity. If you use Etisalat and want to stay connected for appointment reminders or health updates without running out of credit, it takes just a moment to learn How to Check Balance in Etisalat and top up before your line goes quiet.
Watch Out for Scam Health Calls
As awareness around children’s eye health grows in the UAE, so do unsolicited calls from fake clinics and health promotions. If you receive an unexpected call from an unknown number offering free eye tests, health packages, or vouchers, always verify before sharing any personal information. Use the Who Called Me From This Number UAE tool to quickly identify any unknown caller and protect your family from phone scams targeting health-conscious parents.
Good eyesight starts with simple daily habits — more time outside, fewer hours on screens, and regular eye check-ups from an early age. For more health guides and useful information about life in the UAE, visit Ever List.
