18 Things Other Countries Do to Protect Kids’ Eyes That the U.S. Doesn’t
What if protecting kids’ eyes was treated like a public health priority?
Around the world, countries are taking bold steps to reduce childhood myopia, limit excessive screen use, increase outdoor time, and protect children’s long-term vision.
Some countries require outdoor time during the school day.
Some build vision breaks into classroom routines.
Some ban phones from school grounds entirely.
Some are redesigning classroom lighting to better protect children’s eyes.
In the United States, most of this is still left up to individual parents.
As a pediatric ophthalmologist and mom, I created this resource to show you what other countries are already doing — and what we can learn from them
Why this matters
Childhood nearsightedness is increasing rapidly worldwide. This is not just about needing glasses. Higher levels of myopia increase the lifetime risk of serious eye disease, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic maculopathy.
The good news: daily habits matter.
Outdoor time, screen boundaries, regular breaks from near work, and early eye exams can all help protect children’s vision.