Preventing Myopia in Children May be as Simple as Stepping Outside

It has long been thought that spending too much time hunched over books and video games can contribute to myopia, or nearsightedness.

Researchers have looked to areas of East Asia where academics are a focus and society stresses academic competition in children. In cities like Hong Kong and Singapore, 80 to 90 percent of children are nearsighted. There has also been speculation that genetics play a part in this high incidence of myopia.

However, Australian researchers recently announced the results of a study that links myopia not with too much book-reading or genetic tendencies, but with a lack of spending time outside.

By studying children in different areas, researchers found that spending 10 to 14 hours a week outside produced a preventative effect, while spending less time outside produced no effect.

Researchers think that the higher-intensity light outside, which can be hundreds of times brighter than indoors, triggers the release of dopamine, a hormone that slows eye growth and prevents the distorted eye shape associated with myopia. The amount of time spent outside and the intensity of light were important consistencies in the study.

Researchers also found a link between urbanized locations and decreased time spent outside. In Sydney, 3 percent of children of Chinese descent had myopia, while in Singapore, 30 percent of children of Chinese descent had myopia. Though the children in Sydney were documented to read twice as much as the children in Singapore, they spent much more time outdoors.

These findings tie into other recent research that shows a link between some vision problems and a lack of exposure to sunlight.

If you would like more information on myopia or to locate an ophthalmologist near you, please contact The LASIK Directory today.