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A recent study identifies that children’s eyesight is getting worse with one in three short-sighted or not able to see things in distance.
According to a study, pandemic lockdowns have impacted eyesight as children spent more time on screens and less time outdoors. The study raises alarms about the growing health concern, which could affect millions of children by 2050
Myopia, or short-sightedness, is a condition where a person has difficulty seeing distant objects, but it can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
Myopia Trends in Different Countries
In the latest study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers from China’s Sun Yat-Sen University and Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, found that around one in three children and teenagers worldwide are short-sighted.
By 2050, it is estimated that Asia will have the highest prevalence of myopia of any continent, with almost 69% of its population affected. Additionally, researchers suggest that developing countries could experience rates as high as 40%.
In countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, children are accustomed to begin formal education as early as age two. This early exposure to reading and screen use adds strain on their eyes, which research links to the development of myopia.
Conversely, myopia is seven times less common in Africa, where children usually begin school between six and eight years old.
The research suggests that girls and young women might have a higher risk of myopia than boys. This could be because they spend less time outdoors, both at school and at home, as they grow up. Additionally, girls often go through puberty earlier, which could result in developing nearsightedness at a younger age.
What are common signs of shortsightedness or Myopia?
The researchers identified several factors contributing to the rise in myopia, including increased screen time, reduced outdoor activities, and the early start of formal education in some cultures. Researchers suggest that myopia typically begins during primary school years and tends to worsen until the eye has stopped growing, around 20 years of age.
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Some signs or indications of short-sightedness, also known as myopia, include:
Blurry vission: Difficulty in reading words from a distance, such as reading the whiteboard at school,
Sitting close to the TV, or holding a mobile phone or tablet close to the face.
Getting Headaches: You get headaches caused by eyestrain
Rubbing eyes: Children often rub their eyes due to irritation.
Tiredness: You feel tired when driving, playing sports, or looking more than a few feet away
How to protect eyes from Myopia
1. According to UK eye experts, children aged seven to nine should spend at least two hours outside daily to reduce the risk of developing shortsightedness. It is also recommended to take breaks from screens.
2. Parents should also be aware that myopia tends to run in families. If a parent is shortsighted, their children are three times more likely to be shortsighted as well.
3. Myopia cannot be cured, but it can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Special lenses can slow down the impact of myopia in young children by supporting the eye to grow differently, but they are expensive.
4. Children should protect their eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses or seeking shade when outside.
5. Several vision therapies can help improve blurred distance vision caused by eye muscle spasms.
The Takeaway
By 2050, Asia is expected to have the highest myopia rates, affecting 69% of the population, while developing countries may reach 40%. Myopia is a growing global health issue, projected to surpass 740 million cases by 2050, typically starting in childhood and worsening until around age 20.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor with any questions regarding a medical condition.
