New Delhi: Myopia, also called nearsightedness or nearsightedness, is common in children of all ages. Five percent of preschoolers, 9% of early-age children, and 30% of adolescents in the United States have myopia. And the numbers are growing. Researchers predict that by 2050 about half of people in the world will have myopia. This makes it important for parents to understand this vision issue.
Why is myopia increasing?
There are lots of theories about why more children are becoming victims of nearsightedness. We know that when children play outdoors more, they have a lower risk of myopia.
Did you know?
Experts in early childhood education and mental health estimate that children in the U.S. spend an average of about 7 hours a day looking at screens, and only 4 to 7 minutes outside.
Outside time is good for sight in many ways. When your eyes are exposed to sunlight, your body releases chemicals called dopamine. Researchers believe dopamine affects the retina, a layer of cells at the back of the eye that receives light through the cornea and sends signals to the brain. Dopamine slows down the length of the eye (axonal growth). When the eye becomes elongated to an oval shape instead of a round shape, light rays cannot focus on the retina as they should, causing nearsightedness.
Sunlight also provides vitamin D. Some studies show that people with myopia have lower vitamin D levels than people without the condition. Researchers still need to know more to see if there’s a link between vitamins and myopia.
