Although myopia (or nearsightedness) is normally inherited, cases have increased by more than 65 percent in the U.S. since 1970, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Although myopia in children is correctable, it can become more severe in adulthood, increasing the risk of diseases such as glaucoma and retinal detachment.
Fortunately, several studies suggest that there is an easy and effective way to lower risk of nearsightedness…spending more time outdoors.
A group of researchers investigating seven studies on myopia in children and adolescents found a significant association between time spent outdoors and nearsightedness. Children who suffered from the condition spent, on average, 3.7 hours less time outdoors per week than those with normal vision or hyperopia (farsightedness). For each additional hour per week spent outdoors, cases of myopia dropped by 2 percent, reports Eye Smart.
Another study in Denmark measured axial eye length (the distance from the front to the back of the eye) in nearsighted children over seasonal intervals. An increase in axial eye length indicates worsening myopia. Those with the fewest hours of exposure to daylight saw an average growth of 0.19 millimeters, whereas those with the most exposure experienced an average growth of 0.12 millimeters.
A final study tested students in Taiwan at two elementary schools where children had previously spent recess indoors. Students at one school were asked to spend 80 minutes per day outside for one year. Researchers discovered that significantly fewer children in the test group developed myopia.
Researchers believe that time spent outdoors is beneficial to vision because our eyes release dopamine when exposed to the sun. Even so, children’s eyes should always be well-protected from UV rays with a pair of sunglasses. Our Real Kids’ collection of sports shades feature wraparound frames and shatterproof lenses, making them ideal for active kids.
Ingawa myopia ni urithi, idadi ya watu wenye ugonjwa huo imeongezeka kwa asilimia 65 tangu mwaka wa 1970, kulingana na Chuo cha Marekani cha Ophthalmology. Ingawa myopia ya watoto inaweza kurekebishwa, inaweza kuwa kali zaidi katika umri wa watu wazima, na kuongeza hatari ya magonjwa kama vile glaucoma na kutenganishwa kwa retina. Kwa bahati nzuri, tafiti kadhaa zinaonyesha kwamba kuna njia rahisi na yenye matokeo ya kupunguza hatari ya kuona mbali... kutumia wakati mwingi nje. Watafiti wa utafiti wa miaka saba walichunguza miopia ya watoto na vijana, na walipata uhusiano mkubwa kati ya muda wa kukaa nje na upungufu wa kuona. Watoto walio na ugonjwa huo hutumia wastani wa saa 3.7 chini ya saa za kawaida za nje kwa wiki kuliko wale walio na uwezo wa kuona kwa mbali. Kwa kila saa ya ziada ya kila wiki iliyotumika nje, visa vya myopia vilipungua kwa asilimia 2. Utafiti mwingine uliofanywa nchini Denmark ulipima urefu wa jicho (mwendo kutoka mbele hadi nyuma ya jicho) kwa watoto wenye uwezo wa kuona mbali kwa vipindi vya majira. Ongezeko la urefu wa jicho la mhimili huonyesha kwamba myopia inazidi kuwa mbaya. Wale waliotumia muda mfupi zaidi kwenye jua waliongezeka kwa wastani wa milimita 0.19 wakati wale waliotumia muda mrefu zaidi waliongezeka kwa wastani wa milimita 0.12. Utafiti wa mwisho ulichunguza wanafunzi katika shule mbili za msingi nchini Taiwan ambapo watoto walikuwa wametumia mapumziko yao ndani ya nyumba. Wanafunzi wa shule moja waliulizwa kutumia dakika 80 kila siku nje kwa mwaka mmoja. Watafiti waligundua kwamba watoto wachache sana katika kikundi cha majaribio walipatwa na myopia. Watafiti wanaamini kwamba muda unaotumiwa nje ni mzuri kwa uwezo wetu wa kuona kwa sababu macho yetu hutokeza dopamini yanapowekwa kwenye jua. Hata hivyo, macho ya watoto yapaswa kulindwa vizuri dhidi ya miale ya UV kwa kutumia miwani ya jua. Mkusanyiko wetu wa Real Kids wa rangi za michezo una muundo wa kuzunguka na lensi zisizoweza kuvunjika, na kuzifanya ziwe bora kwa watoto wenye shughuli nyingi.