Nagpur, India: India is heading towards a myopia epidemic, warned Dr Partha Biswas, President of the All India Ophthalmic Society (AIOS), at the 50th Installation Ceremony of the Vidarbha Ophthalmic Society (VOS) held on Sunday in Nagpur. Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Biswas expressed concern over the increasing use of mobile phones and digital screens among children and youth.

“If this trend continues, by 2050, every second person in South Asia — including India and the Pacific — could suffer from myopia,” Dr Biswas said. He stressed the urgent need for awareness and policy intervention to prevent a public health crisis.

To address the issue, AIOS has announced two major initiatives for 2025. The first is a nationwide survey on refractive errors in children, to be conducted in partnership with the government. Dr Biswas declared 2025 as the “Year of the Children” and urged authorities to take action to reduce screen time and control mobile use among school-age children. He pointed out that several countries have already implemented such measures, while India still needs to catch up.

The second initiative focuses on diabetic retinopathy — a serious eye condition caused by diabetes. Dr Biswas advised diabetic patients to undergo eye check-ups every six months to prevent permanent vision loss through early detection.

In a significant announcement, he also shared that India will host the first-ever Global Eye Health Summit in 2026. The summit will bring together international experts to address growing challenges in eye care and health.

The event also marked the installation of the new executive committee of VOS for the year 2025–26. Dr Viral Shah took charge as President. He was joined by Dr Shamik Mokadam as Secretary, Dr Shon Chichole as President-Elect, Dr Abhijeet Patil as Vice President, Dr Santosh Dalankar as Treasurer, and Dr Shadab Khan as Joint Secretary. Other key members include Dr Rahul Tiwari, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, and Vice Chairperson Dr Neha Deshpande.

Outgoing President Dr Shirish Thorat officially handed over the responsibility during the ceremony, which was attended by AIOS President Dr Partha Biswas, Dr V Narendran, Dr Prashant Bawankule, Dr Shriram Lahole, and Dr Kavita Dangra, among other dignitaries.