One In Three Children Affected By Myopia Surge

September 27, 2024

A recent study revealed that one in three children around the world now has short-sightedness, also known as myopia. This condition makes it difficult for children to see things clearly that are far away. The main reasons for this increase are more time spent looking at screens and less time spent outdoors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pandemic’s Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many children lived. Because of lockdowns, children had to stay indoors more and spend more time on devices like phones, computers, and TVs for school and entertainment. This led to less outdoor physical activity, which is important for healthy eyes. As a result, myopia cases have gone up significantly. The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, shows that myopia cases have tripled worldwide since 1990.

Global Statistics

Researchers collected data from over five million children in 50 countries and found that myopia rates vary across regions. In Asia, the problem is particularly serious, with 85% of children in Japan and 73% in South Korea affected. In contrast, countries like Paraguay and Uganda have much lower rates, with only 1% of children affected. In the UK, Ireland, and the US, around 15% of children are dealing with myopia.

Age and Development

Myopia usually starts during elementary or primary school and gets worse until a child’s eye stops growing, which happens around the age of 20. Environmental factors play a big role in this, especially in places like East Asia, where children spend a lot of time looking at screens or reading books. This can increase the risk of developing myopia.

Experts believe that by 2050, more than half of the world’s teenagers might have myopia. The study also suggests that girls and young women may be more likely to develop myopia because they tend to spend less time outdoors during their school years.

How can we prevent myopia?

To help prevent myopia, researchers recommend that children spend at least two hours a day outdoors, especially when they are between the ages of seven and nine. Being outside and exposed to natural light is beneficial for eye health.

What is myopia?

Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects more than 30% of the global population. It usually starts in childhood and can get worse during the teenage years. Myopia happens when the eyeball becomes too long or the cornea (the front part of the eye) curves too much, making it hard to see things clearly from a distance. Having myopia can increase the risk of other serious eye problems, like retinal detachment and glaucoma.

There are treatments available, such as wearing glasses or contact lenses. Newer treatments like orthokeratology (special lenses worn overnight to reshape the eye) can also help. Additionally, spending more time in natural light may help slow the progression of myopia. Genetics can play a role too—if a child’s parents have myopia, they are more likely to develop it.

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