‘Too Much Screen Time Is Harming Kids’ Eyes’: US Ophthalmologist in Bihar

Patna: A leading American ophthalmologist has warned of a sharp rise in myopia and retinal diseases among children, attributing the trend to excessive screen time and limited exposure to sunlight.

Dr. Donny Suh, chief of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, visited Bihar’s Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital on Monday, where he underscored the importance of outdoor activities in maintaining children’s eye health. He also performed complex pediatric eye surgeries during his visit.

Speaking at the hospital’s Centre of Excellence in Mastichak, Dr. Suh said early intervention is key in treating conditions such as squint and other vision impairments. He stressed that children with diabetes are particularly at risk and urged parents to encourage outdoor play to reduce eye strain.

Dr. Suh, who is in India for the Asia Pacific Conference on eye diseases in Delhi from April 3 to 6, described Akhand Jyoti’s facilities as “world-class” and comparable to top American institutions. He last visited the hospital seven years ago and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing its pediatric ophthalmology services. He also called on pediatricians and neonatologists in Bihar to refer children with suspected retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and other serious eye conditions for timely treatment.

Akhand Jyoti’s chief executive, Mrityunjay Tiwari, said the hospital’s initiatives would play a crucial role in preventing childhood blindness in Bihar. Its medical director, Dr. Ajit Poddar, introduced Project Bal Drishti, an ambitious plan to screen 500,000 children for eye diseases and perform over 4,000 surgeries in the next two years. He expressed confidence that Dr. Suh’s expertise would strengthen the program.

Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital, run by the Yugrishi Shriram Sharma Acharya Charitable Trust, is the largest eye care provider in eastern India. With a 750-bed network across multiple centers, its Mastichak facility alone houses 11 operation theatres and over 50 ophthalmologists. The hospital, which also operates branches in Purnia, Samastipur, and Ballia, along with 45 vision centers across Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, performs over 100,000 eye surgeries annually—nearly 80% of them free of charge.