Specsavers raises myopia awareness with Snakes & Ladders

A giant outdoor snakes and ladders installation has appeared on London’s South Bank, as part of a Specsavers campaign to raise awareness of childhood myopia and the benefits of spending time outdoors. 

Specsavers’ new awareness drive follows research revealing that children are spending an average of 45 hours a week indoors, with more than a third of that time spent staring at screens. 

The national study of 2,000 parents of children aged 6 to 14 found that kids spend nearly two and a half hours a day on smartphones, tablets, or watching TV. 

While 63% of parents said they wish their children spent more time outdoors, 43% admitted that their children prefer screens and most did not recognise early signs of vision problems, such as squinting and headaches.