Study Indicates High Rates of Vision Problems in Teens

New research from Lurambi Constituency in Kenya has found that vision issues — especially myopia — are increasingly common among adolescents, signaling the urgent need for more robust eye‑health services. The study, published on 25 July 2025 in African Vision & Eye Health, surveyed 115 teenagers attending local eye clinics. Researchers discovered that while 69.8% of participants had good knowledge of myopia control strategies, only 47.7% had actually adopted them.
The study revealed curious patterns in uptake: nearly half of the teens were aware of basic correction options like single‑vision spectacles and contact lenses, but awareness of more effective strategies — such as progressive lenses — was much lower, at around 34.8%. Experts say this limited adoption may increase the risk of myopia worsening over time, especially given that teenage years are a critical period of ocular growth.
Other Kenyan data points back up the growing concern about adolescent eyesight. A population-based Kenya Eye Study found that about 2.4% of children aged 5–16 years had visual impairment, with 62% of those cases due to uncorrected refractive errors like myopia. Meanwhile, a study in Nairobi high schools revealed that 17.2% of students had significant refractive error; however, 64.1% of these students were not using corrective glasses, often citing cost and stigma as key barriers.
Health experts say the findings underscore how critical early screening and education are in curbing long-term vision problems. They are calling for expanded school-based eye checks, more affordable corrective options, and stronger public information campaigns — especially during adolescence — to prevent preventable vision loss and support academic success.