Doctors warn of rising childhood myopia as Uganda battles preventable eye diseases

22 November 2025, 10:51 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Health experts have warned that the world could face a major public health crisis by 2050, with projections showing that at least 50 per cent of the global population may be short-sighted. Dr. Franklin Wasswa, an oculist at a hospital in Wakiso District, says the rapidly rising cases of near-sightedness among children have become a major concern for doctors, parents, and caregivers worldwide.

Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is already one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness globally. Dr. Wasswa explains that a person with the condition struggles to clearly see distant objects, and while glasses may offer temporary support, they do not permanently correct the problem.

He notes that although children typically develop myopia between eight and 12 years of age, the condition is now appearing much earlier. “When children develop myopia at a very young age, their risk of severe myopia in adulthood increases, along with other complications such as cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment,” he said. Dr. Wasswa added that the problem is caused by abnormal eyeball growth. “The eyeball should be more spherical, but when it grows longer than normal, images fail to focus properly on the retina.”

According to him, the modern education environment is partly to blame. Children spend long hours indoors studying, watching television or using digital devices. He noted that many families living in apartments do not have outdoor play areas, which denies children time in natural sunlight, an important factor for healthy eye development. “Some schools prioritise academics and ignore playtime, yet children need sunshine to support good eye health,” he said.

A recent report also shows that trachoma, one of the world’s neglected tropical diseases, remains endemic in 50 districts of Uganda, especially in dry regions with limited access to clean water. Dr. Tomson Lakwo, an entomologist at the Ministry of Health, says the disease mostly affects children and can lead to total blindness if not treated early. “Regularly washing the eyes with clean water and seeking early treatment can help reverse the damage caused by trachoma,” he said.

Uganda has made progress in controlling the disease through the SAFE strategy, which includes surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement. However, elimination has not yet been fully achieved.

Results from the Rapid Assessments of Avoidable Blindness surveys indicate that 0.4 per cent of Ugandans, about 160,000 people, are blind, while 7 per cent—nearly 2.8 million people have moderate to severe visual impairment. Ophthalmologist Gladys Atto and other eye specialists acknowledge that government efforts through the Ministry of Health have been helpful, but they say more awareness is needed, especially in northern Uganda. They urge the government and development partners to ensure that eye care services, including regular checkups, are available for free in public health facilities.

The doctors also warn that glasses cannot permanently fix myopia and advised the public to adopt preventive measures. These include avoiding the sharing of eye drops, limiting children’s screen time, using protective eyewear while swimming, seeking treatment from qualified eye specialists, and ensuring proper diagnosis before leaving the hospital.