News Flash
By Borun Kumar Dash and Abdur Rouf
DHAKA, Nov 14, 2025 (BSS) – Professor Dr. Quazi Md. Maniruzzaman of the Ophthalmology Department at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital said the incidence of myopia (short-sightedness) is growing among children at an alarming rate due to their indoor or sedentary lifestyle.
He said this in an interview with BSS recently, noting that despite many challenges, eye care in Bangladesh has advanced remarkably in recent years.
“Among the few areas where Bangladesh has kept pace with the world, ophthalmology is one. Alongside developing subspecialties, many world-class private eye hospitals have been established in our country — something that was unthinkable a few years ago,” said Prof Maniruzzaman.
He added: “Previously, most eye doctors used to sit in optical shops without any proper facilities. Now that all advanced eye treatments are available domestically, I believe there’s no longer any need to go abroad for eye care.”
Prof Maniruzzaman explained that in the past, a single ophthalmologist had to treat nearly all types of eye conditions — including retina, glaucoma, cornea, and cataract cases — which was not ideal since one physician cannot master every area equally.
“Now, with the development of multiple subspecialties, patients are receiving far better care. For instance, if an ophthalmologist identifies a retinal problem, they can immediately refer the patient to a retina specialist. Similarly, a retina specialist may refer a glaucoma case to the appropriate expert. This coordinated approach has taken eye care in Bangladesh to a new level,” he said.
When asked why eye problems are increasing among children and people of different age groups, Prof Maniruzzaman replied, “Nowadays, one of the most common issues among children is myopia, or vision problems requiring glasses. The main reason lies in their lifestyle. Kids today spend most of their time focusing on close-up activities indoors. They rarely engage in outdoor play. For them, ‘playtime’ often means playing games on mobile devices. They travel to school by vehicles and spend the day in classrooms — practically confined within rooms.”
Explaining the body’s natural adaptation process, he said, “Our body becomes efficient at whatever activity we do most often. So, people who frequently use phones or digital devices at close range gradually develop eyes adapted for near vision. This results in a shift toward negative power — that is, myopia. Evidence of this is clear: children in villages who play outdoors and run around rarely need glasses.”
For adults, environmental pollution is the leading cause of increasing eye diseases, he added.
“There’s a lot of dust outside, and these dust particles act as allergens. This causes eye allergies. Many patients continue using the prescribed eye drops for long periods without consulting their doctors. If a physician advises one month of use, patients often keep using it indefinitely because they feel better. This leads to conditions like steroid-induced glaucoma and steroid-induced cataract. Thus, not only does dust cause allergies, but self-medication also results in new diseases,” Prof Maniruzzaman said.
The DMCH eye specialist emphasized the need to increase the number of ophthalmologists in district- and upazila-level hospitals.
“Dhaka now has many eye hospitals, and major cities, including Chattogram, have good facilities. But at the district and upazila level, eye care services remain insufficient, with too few specialists. As a result, many patients still travel to Dhaka or divisional cities, which causes significant economic loss. So, appointing more eye doctors in district and upazila hospitals is crucial,” he noted.
When asked whether Bangladesh needs more specialized eye hospitals, he replied, “The National Institute of Ophthalmology has only 250 beds, yet around 3,000 patients receive treatment there every day. Given the current situation, the capacity should be increased to at least 500 beds. It would also be beneficial to establish similar institutes in divisional cities. If that’s not feasible right now, increasing the number of specialized ophthalmologists and facilities in medical colleges can serve as a temporary solution.”
For preventing eye diseases in both children and adults, Prof Maniruzzaman advised, “Children should be given opportunities for outdoor activities. They shouldn’t be confined indoors or left constantly with mobile devices. Parents should take them outside at least once or twice a day.
For adults — especially diabetic patients who have had the condition for at least 10 years — an eye check-up every one to two years is a must. They need to check whether there’s any change in the retina because diabetes can damage both the kidneys and the retina in similar ways.”
He also cautioned against excessive late-night device use among youth, saying, “The tendency to stay up late using mobile phones or digital devices has increased significantly. This not only harms the eyes but the entire body. Our body follows a natural sleep rhythm, known as the circadian rhythm. The sleep hormone is released most between 10pm and midnight. Missing this window disrupts sleep patterns, causing headaches, eye pain, watery eyes, and poor concentration. So, sleeping on time and avoiding mobile use before bed are the best practices.”
In conclusion, Prof Maniruzzaman stressed, “Eyes are a precious organ. With just a little care, many problems can be prevented. Regular sleep, limited screen time, spending enough time outdoors, and annual eye check-ups — these simple steps can help keep our eyes healthy for a long time.”
