The German Association of Ophthalmologists warned that children looking at objects less than 30 cm away, such as smartphones and tablets, raise the risk of nearsightedness.
Shortness of sight is a form of visual impairment. The symptoms are the difficulty of seeing distant things, bringing things closer to books, and narrowing the eyes to see things better, as well as headaches and reduced academic achievement.
To prevent myopia, the association advises that the child stay outdoors for at least two hours a day; this reduces the risk of myopia by half.