Kids should go outside more to avoid nearsightedness, report says

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Children should spend up to two hours a day outside to reduce their risk of myopia, or nearsightedness, according to a new consensus report from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. At least one of those hours should take place during the school day, the report said.

Myopia is a condition in which distant objects are blurry but close-up objects look clear. The National Academies report cited research indicating a significant rise in myopia worldwide.

In a little over 30 years, the prevalence of myopia increased in the U.S. from 25% in 1972 to 42% in 2004. In some Asian countries, that number might be as high as 88%, the report added.

Because inadequate outdoor time has emerged as a significant factor for increasing the risk of myopia, the report highlighted the need to stimulate the eye with more natural light.

The report also recommended that exposure start early in life “with increased outdoor time during daylight for young children and persistent outdoor activity throughout childhood and into young adulthood.”

Another possible cause for the rise in nearsightedness is the amount of “near work,” such as reading, studying and writing. The study notes that the beginning of the myopia boom preceded the introduction of smartphones and other mobile devices, making technology’s contribution to myopia unclear.

But the researchers stressed the need to understand whether the use of electronic devices increases the risk of myopia beyond that of reading or writing. Device use also may encourage children to spend less time outdoors in favour of more time engaged in near work for long periods of time and at increasingly younger ages, the researchers said.

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