According to a new study, in 2023, more than a third of the world's children will be short-sighted, and in 2050, this share will grow to almost 40%, CNN reported.
Short-sightedness or myopia occurs when closer objects are clear and distant objects are blurred. According to the article published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, the last 30 years have seen a significant increase in the prevalence of myopia among children and adolescents, from 24% in 1990 to almost 36% in 2023.
Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, reached their conclusions by analyzing the results of 276 studies involving more than 5.4 million children and adolescents in 50 countries on six continents.
Although this increase has been largely gradual, there has been a notable spike since the Covid-19 pandemic, say the researchers, who also note regional differences.
"Myopia has become a major public health problem today, with striking evidence of a rapid increase in its prevalence, particularly in Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, China and Taiwan," said the paper, which found that children from East Asia has the highest rate of myopia - 35%.
This may be partly due to the fact that East Asian children start formal education at 2-3 years of age, earlier than children in other regions.
Japan tops the list with 86% myopic children. South Korea is in second place on this indicator - 74%.
Globally, children in urban areas have higher rates of myopia than those in rural areas, while girls are slightly more likely to suffer from the condition than boys.
The researchers emphasize that younger children are more vulnerable to environmental factors than adults, stating that "this is particularly important for preschool children, as they are in a critical period of vision development characterized by with high plasticity'.
Looking ahead, scientists predict that the prevalence of myopia will continue to increase among children and adolescents, reaching 36.6% in 2040 and 39.8% in 2050.
Still, there are things parents can encourage their children to do to protect their vision.
The researchers recommend that young people "get into the habit of regularly practicing eye protection."
"Students should also increase the time spent on physical activity and decrease the time spent on inactive activities such as watching television and videos, playing computer games and surfing the Internet."
The study's authors advise officials to reduce the burden of homework and lessons on students, and to promote eye exams, early detection and treatment.
These recommendations were supported by Dr. Benjamin Botsford, an ophthalmologist at the UMass Chan School of Medicine.
He writes that the progression of myopia in children can be slowed by taking breaks and avoiding hours spent in front of the phone or computer.
Limiting close reading time outside of school — on a screen or otherwise — can help slow the progression of myopia in children, Botsford said.
Prolonged time spent in front of the screen can cause eye strain and dryness. The ophthalmologist suggests following the "20-20-20" rule.
“Take 20-second breaks every 20 minutes to look 20 meters away from your device. Focus on relaxing your eyes and blinking. "Occasional use of over-the-counter artificial tears can help with dry eyes," he said.
Botsford also advises that spending time outdoors is good for your eyes, saying "it's associated with a reduced incidence of childhood myopia." | BGNES
