Students have been urged to limit the amount of time they spend on phones, televisions and computers during the school holidays, as eye specialists warn that prolonged screen exposure can contribute to eye problems.
The call was made during the second edition of Lapaire Day, organised by Lapaire Uganda at its Ntinda office on Saturday. The event brought together students from various schools for eye-health education, free eye examinations and career guidance on opportunities in the optical health sector.
Lapaire eye specialist Dr Lynette Mary Muhiirwa said school holidays often result in increased screen time among children, making it important for parents and learners to adopt healthy habits to protect their eyesight.
“People who spend a lot of time on digital devices, especially children who are back on holiday, are more likely to develop what you call photophobia, so you become very responsive to environmental factors,” Muhiirwa said.
She encouraged students to regulate their screen time, get enough sleep and spend more time outdoors instead of remaining glued to digital devices.
“As you are going back home, I know you’re going to be exposed to digital gadgets, your phones, your TV and laptop, but I recommend regulating your screen time, sleeping enough and also engaging in more outdoor activities,” she said.
Muhiirwa also advised families to support good eye health through proper nutrition, noting that foods rich in vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids can help maintain healthy vision.
She urged parents and guardians not to ignore warning signs such as persistent itching, tearing, redness, pain or discharge from the eyes.
“If you notice anything wrong with the eyes, it’s an indication that you should come for an eye test. The faster we manage it, the easier it is for you to get better,” she said.
Beyond promoting healthy eye-care habits, the event introduced students to careers in optometry and ophthalmology through practical demonstrations and interactions with eye-care professionals.
Lapaire’s Head of Public Relations and Communications, John Hillary Balyejusa, said the initiative is also intended to help address Uganda’s shortage of eye-care professionals by encouraging young people to consider careers in the sector.
He said Uganda has fewer than 600 practising eye-care professionals serving a population of nearly 50 million, underscoring the need to expose students to career opportunities in the field.
“We do this in hope that we can get many more of these students to consider optometry and ophthalmology as a career choice when they go to school,” Balyejusa said.
The Ntinda event marked the second edition of Lapaire Day and followed the company’s expanded school outreach programme, which Lapaire says has reached more than 10,000 students this year through engagements in Kampala, Masaka and Jinja.
