How to help children from becoming short-sighted as one in three have myopia --[Reported by Umva mag]

Around one in three children worldwide are short-sighted, a new study has found.

People with short-sightedness, also called myopia or near-sightedness, can see close-up objects clearly, like the words you’re reading right now. Anything far away, though, and it’s a blurry mess.

But researchers have found that children’s eyes have become so bad that myopia may soon become a ‘global health burden’ for young people.

By 2050, according to a study published yesterday in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, the global prevalence of myopia is set to top 740 million cases in children or about four in 10. That’s a lot of glasses to buy.

The researchers found that the prevalence of myopia tripled between 1990 and 2023, rising from 24% in 1990-2000 to 25% in 2001-10, 30% in 2011-19 and 36% in 2020-23.

The highest rates are in Asia. About 85% of children in Japan and 73% in South Korea are short-sighted, while 15% of youngsters are in the UK, Ireland and the US.

The fewest were in Paraguay and Uganda, at about 1%.

Researchers combed through decades’ worth of reports and government files that covered cases of myopia in 5,410,945 children across all six continents to carry out one of the largest studies of the eye condition to date.

What is short-sightedness? Myopia meaning explained

Medically speaking, myopia happens because the eyeball gradually grows longer, front to back. If untreated, near-sightedness can increase the risk of more serious eye conditions such as retinal detachment, cataracts and glaucoma.

In children, signs of myopia may include headaches, excessive blinking, eye rubbing, dry eyes and feeling tired and cranky.

‘The more the eye elongates, the greater the risk of irreversible loss of vision later in life,’ John Bolger, who runs the Myopia Control Clinic for Children in London and has treated people with the eye disorder for 10 years, told Metro.co.uk.

At what age can short-sightedness start?

Usually between six and 13 years old, according to the NHS.

What causes myopia?

Genetics – what children inherit from their parents – is a huge factor. Children with one or both near-sighted parents are more likely to struggle to see distant objects.

The number of people with myopia has surged in recent decades. Genes, however, take centuries to change. So experts like Bolger say that the environment is likely behind this.

Chiefly, outdoor light – or rather, a lack of it.

‘Natural daylight is essential for our eyes to develop naturally, without the eye needing to compensate its natural and normal shape,’ Bolger, the chief surgeon and data scientist at the private My i-Clinic, says.

‘Twenty-first-century urban lifestyles are making children and young people myopic because they spend most of their time indoors, glued to screens, missing out on the essential benefits of natural light,’ explains Bolger.

A lack of outdoor spaces, ‘stranger danger’ worries and the allure of electronic devices are among the reasons why children spend more time indoors.

Even schooling has been casually linked to myopia, though researchers agree that genetic predisposition is a more powerful predictor of short-sightedness.

Education may explain why Asia is seeing a sharp spike in myopia cases in children. Asia, which has seen rapid economic growth, is expected to have the highest prevalence of myopia, according to yesterday’s paper, seeing rates of 52% in 2030, 62% in 2040 and 69% in 2050.

While in Africa, where schooling generally starts when children are six, myopia is seven times less common than in Asia.

There’s another pretty big reason for the increase if yesterday’s analysis is any indication, says Giles Edmonds, the clinical services director for Specsavers.

‘The findings suggest that Covid lockdowns have had a significant impact on eyesight due to children spending less time outdoors and more time on screens,’ he told Metro.co.uk.

How can you prevent a child from becoming short-sighted?

While we can’t beat genetics, experts have a few ways to lessen the environmental drivers of myopia.

‘Even on dull days, natural light levels are beneficial,’ Bolger says. ‘Make a conscious effort to bring your child’s everyday activities outdoors; try to ensure “outdoor time” is a family-wide affair, so it’s not viewed as a solitary or negative pursuit; reduce time spent on screens/devices.’

When it’s time to go online, youngsters should keep their digital devices like tablets and phones about two feet away and at eye level.

The fabled 20/20/20 rule is a go-to. Children should look up at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes to give their eyes a break.

Actually letting eyeballs relax is generally better for eye health than blue-light-blocking software and glasses.

And, of course, regular eye tests. Vision screenings are vital to identifying potential issues with children’s eyesight. ‘If you think your child is displaying any signs of myopia or if you have any concerns about their vision, please book an appointment with your local opticians,’ Edmonds adds.

Can you get contact lenses for myopia?

Yes! Contact lenses and glasses are both common treatments for the condition. Laser eye surgery is also an option.

However, the increasing prevalence of myopia isn’t just about more kids going glasses shopping.

‘We need to create a societal shift to get “back to nature”,’ says Bolger, adding: ‘Daylight is abundant, free, and holds the key to slowing myopia progression.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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