Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Half the world to be short-sighted by 2050 – The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness

  https://www.iapb.org/news/half-the-world-to-be-short-sighted-by-2050/

  Half the worlds population (nearly 5 billion) will be short-sighted (myopic) by 2050, with up to one-fifth of them (1 billion) at a significantly increased risk of blindness if current trends continue, says a study published in the journal Ophthalmology this week. […] Parents advised to have childrens eyes checked regularly, improve time outdoors and moderate time on near based activities including electronic devices. […] Myopia, also known as short-sightedness or near-sightedness, causes people to have difficulty seeing distant objects clearly.

• #2 Short-sightedness has become an epidemic

  https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/06/09/short-sightedness-has-become-an-epidemic

  Short-sightedness has become an epidemic. […] China rolled out a scheme in 2018 to curb the rise in myopia among children and teenagers. The scheme aims to keep the myopia rate among six-year-olds at around three percent by 2030, and the rate among junior and senior high school students below 60 percent and 70 percent, respectively.

• #3 Myopia in Children and Adolescents

  https://www.zeiss.com/vision-care/en/eye-health-and-care/myopia/myopia-in-children-and-adolescents.html

  Experts are concerned about the rapid increase of short-sightedness among children and young people, mainly due to external factors. The positive side to this is that there are ways to slow down its development through „myopia management”. […] Therefore, it is essential to visit the ophthalmologist or optician regularly. Only an expert can determine whether short-sightedness is present or imminent. If so, they can suggest a course of action or treatment. […] To reduce the risk of myopia, children should not spend too much time in front of smartphones, TVs or do activities that involve focusing on something close-by for an extended period of time. […] Research has shown that children who frequently spend time outdoors are less prone to myopia or those who are affected show slower progression. It is therefore recommended that children spend at least two hours per day outside in daylight. This applies to all age groups.

• #4 ZEISS Myopia management lenses

  https://www.zeiss.com/vision-care/en/need-new-lenses/myopia-management-lenses.html

  Is your little one shortsighted or showing signs of myopia? […] Managing progressive myopia in children early on can help avoid serious vision issues later in life. ZEISS Myopia management lenses are designed to help slow the progression of myopia in kids up to 12 years old and give them clear, comfortable vision at the same time. […] Early onset of myopia implies more years of progression, but it also tends to progress faster in younger children. Myopes below the age of seven are therefore at greater risk of developing high myopia. […] Thats why the best time to consult a professional and start treating myopia is as soon as possible. […] At least two hours of outdoor time is recommended to prevent or delay the onset of myopia. […] Early detection and management of myopia are key. We recommend annual eye exams.

• #5 Myopia: A Global Epidemic – Retina Today

  https://retinatoday.com/articles/2019-sept/myopia-a-global-epidemic

  Myopia is the most common ocular disorder worldwide, it is the leading cause of visual impairment in children, and its incidence is increasing rapidly. […] The rapidly increasing incidence of myopia combined with its significant social and economic burdens have spurred research on causal factors, possible treatments, and efforts at prevention. […] Increased outdoor activity has been shown to prevent the onset of myopia, with a possible dose-response relationship between time spent outdoors and the risk of incident myopia. […] This finding suggests that exposure to light may play a major role in myopia prevention. […] Some have proposed using contact lenses that emphasize peripheral myopic defocus and thus minimize hyperopic defocus to help decrease myopic progression. […] Another area of interest is children’s use of bifocal glasses to slow myopia by reducing accommodative lag and hyperopic defocus.

• #6 Myopia: How to Slow Progression in Your Child

  https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/slow-progression-child-myopia

  The United States is fast becoming a nearsighted nation: More than 40% of Americans have myopia, and the number is climbing fast, especially for children. […] The good news is that there are steps you can take now to slow the progression of your childs nearsightedness and protect their future eyesight. […] If left unchecked, it can advance to high myopia, which can cause serious sight-threatening conditions in adulthood, including: Retinal detachment, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Crossed eyes. […] Once it starts, it can progress at the rate of 0.50 diopters per year. […] These are some of the therapies that have proved to be effective: Low-dose atropine drops: These drops are usually given at bedtime for 2 or 3 years to children who are between 5 and 18 years of age. […] Some eye doctors report that for up to 90% of kids who use the drops, the rate of myopia progression slows by about half.

• #7 Myopia Management | Loxley Opticians & Eyewear Experts

  https://www.loxleyopticians.com/myopia-management/

  Myopia management / control is a treatment to slow down the progression of shortsightedness (myopia) by up to 60% using specially prescribed myopia management spectacle lenses or contact lenses for children and young adults, now available at Loxley. […] Shortsightedness is associated with diseases such as myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment, cataract, and open angle glaucoma. Which can all lead to sight loss. The higher the myopia or nearsightedness, the greater the risk of developing these conditions. […] However, if we reduce shortsightedness by just 1 diopter in an individual, we could reduce the risk of developing myopic maculopathy by 40% irrespective of the severity of myopia. […] Specialised spectacle lenses and contact lenses are now available at Loxley to slow down myopia. We now regard myopia management as key to reducing the risk of these eye conditions for all children and young adults who are developing shortsightedness.

• #8 Myopia Control | 4 Ways to Prevent Short-sightedness | Westgate Optometrists

  https://www.westopt.nz/myopia-control

  Myopia is frequently diagnosed between 8 and 12 years of age, and tends to progress more rapidly through the teenage years as their eyes grow along with their body. […] It has been shown that having one shortsighted parent significantly increases a child’s risk of developing myopia, while having both parents shortsighted gives them around a 70% chance of developing it themselves. […] These numbers are comparable to the effects of smoking on the eye! As such, it is important we do what we can to prevent your child from becoming highly myopic. […] While there is no cure for shortsightedness at this stage, extensive research is always ongoing all around the world in trying to slow down the overgrowth of the eyes. […] To summarize, there are several main methods shown to be effective in slowing down the worsening of myopia:

• #9 Reduce the risk of myopia in children – Boston Children’s Answers

  https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ways-to-prevent-myopia/

  Myopia — also known as nearsightedness, or the inability to see things far away — is becoming more prevalent in children. […] Dr. Kimberley Chan, an optometrist in Boston Children’s Department of Ophthalmology, has hope that despite projections such as half the world’s population will be nearsighted by 2050, myopia can be prevented. […] The formative years from birth to age 6 will determine the shape of their eyes and could lessen their chances of having myopia. […] Studies suggest that spending around two hours a day outdoors can prevent myopia. […] Taking steps to prevent or even slow myopia could help your child avoid the risk of developing other eye conditions. […] Prevention can also help your child from experiencing the social and emotional challenges that poor vision can cause at school and other settings that require good vision. […] “Myopia is an epidemic,” says Dr. Chan. “It doesn’t have to be.”

• #10 Myopia Control | 4 Ways to Prevent Short-sightedness | Westgate Optometrists

  https://www.westopt.nz/myopia-control

  Myopia is frequently diagnosed between 8 and 12 years of age, and tends to progress more rapidly through the teenage years as their eyes grow along with their body. […] It has been shown that having one shortsighted parent significantly increases a child’s risk of developing myopia, while having both parents shortsighted gives them around a 70% chance of developing it themselves. […] These numbers are comparable to the effects of smoking on the eye! As such, it is important we do what we can to prevent your child from becoming highly myopic. […] While there is no cure for shortsightedness at this stage, extensive research is always ongoing all around the world in trying to slow down the overgrowth of the eyes. […] To summarize, there are several main methods shown to be effective in slowing down the worsening of myopia:

• #11 Myopia | Child Myopia | Prevention & Control of Myopia in Children

  https://www.childmyopia.com/

  The risk of myopia in children increases when parents are myopic. The risk is nearly 1 in 2 when both parents are myopic. […] Myopia is a common eye health condition which causes blurred distance vision (short-sightedness). Myopia is not just a vision condition. No level of myopia is safe and regular eye tests are critical to its management. […] It has been established that managing myopia in its early stages can help to slow its progression, reducing the potential risk of developing high myopia and its associated conditions later in life. High myopia is a refractive error of at least -5.00D in either eye. This not only involves correcting the blurred distance vision associated with myopia but also employing management options proven to slow the progression of myopia in children. […] Treating myopia in children doesn’t mean just getting glasses. As research and technological innovations in this area continue, optometrists now have a range of new management options which mean they can not only provide clear vision but slow down the progression of myopia. […] As recommended by Optometry Australia and the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, take your child for their first eye test with an optometrist before starting school and at regular intervals thereafter.

• #12 About Myopia (Near-sightedness)

  https://nova-sight.com/about-myopia-near-sightedness/

  Near-sightedness, or myopia, as it is medically termed, is a vision condition in which people can see close objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurry. […] According to the World Health Organization and Brien Holden Institute, myopia has doubled its prevalence over the past 20 years, and it is estimated that the prevalence will increase to 4.7 billion in 2050 from 2.6 billion in 2020. […] While mild myopia is correctable, these pathological consequences make high myopia one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness. […] Environmental factors that induce myopia are excessive screen time and lack of outdoor activities. […] The surge of myopia in the 21st century is mainly explained by a lack of outdoor activities and increased use of screens. […] However, the best way to avoid myopia or prevent its progression in children is spending more time outdoors and reducing screen time.

• #13 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Further, myopia carries long-term implications for eye health. Individuals with high levels of myopia are at a higher risk of developing sight-threatening conditions such as early onset of cataract, retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Taking measures to control myopia in childhood can reduce the risk of these complications later in life. […] How to Prevent Myopia from Worsening […] In recent years, research has provided compelling evidence linking increased outdoor time to a reduced risk of myopia in children. […] Several studies have consistently shown a strong association between spending more time outdoors and a lower incidence of myopia. […] The 20-20-20 rule is a simple yet effective technique for preventing eye strain, particularly in children who may spend prolonged periods engaged in near work such as reading or using digital devices. […] This rule encourages regular breaks and helps alleviate the strain on the eyes, potentially reducing the risk of myopia progression.

• #14 Why short-sightedness is on the rise

  https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220927-can-you-prevent-short-sightedness-in-kids

  Instead, lifestyle factors are thought to be more significant, in particular, a lack of time outdoors, and focusing on close objects for an extended period through an activity like reading. […] Education has been shown to cause short-sightedness, says Ghorbani-Mojarrad, referring to education as measured by school years. […] The most effective, evidence-based prevention strategy is also surprisingly low-tech, and applies to all countries regardless of their wealth or resources: more time outdoors. […] Researchers are still investigating exactly why being outdoors, and being in natural light, helps prevent myopia but for now, their perhaps most important conclusion is that it does. […] Ultimately, a child’s eyesight is part of their general wellbeing, she says: „We don’t just want the focus to be on the eyes: it’s about the whole body and good mental health. We want our kids to lead healthy lives.”

• #15 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Research has indicated a strong correlation between healthy lifestyle choices and a reduced risk of myopia development and progression in children. […] Encouraging a balanced diet that includes essential nutrients for eye health, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein, can significantly support optimal visual health and potentially mitigate myopia. […] By promoting a holistic approach that incorporates a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and sufficient sleep, parents and educators can contribute to reducing the risk of myopia in children. […] Hence, it is essential to emphasise the significance of these lifestyle choices alongside other preventive measures, such as limiting screen time and maintaining appropriate reading distances, for comprehensive myopia control and long-term eye health.

• #16 Prevention of myopia, China

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7265928/

  Primary prevention focuses on reducing myopia incidence. The growing prevalence of high myopia and its attendant serious complications, call for primary prevention strategies, which are prioritized in the current Chinese national myopia control plan. Increasing time outdoors is most salient among these. […] Time outdoors and exposure to sunlight may lead to reduced incidence of myopia owing to light-stimulated increases in dopamine release from the retina. […] The approach of increasing time outdoors has been validated in school-based interventional research, with a 25.050.0% reduction of myopia incidence observed with an additional 12 hours per day outdoors over the course of 13 years. […] A school-based national programme of two hours per day outdoors has been implemented in Taiwan, China, and a 12-hour daily period of outdoor time is specified in the Chinese national myopia control programme.

• #17 Time spent outdoors in childhood is associated with reduced risk of myopia as an adult | Scientific Reports

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-85825-y

  Myopia (near-sightedness) is an important public health issue. Spending more time outdoors can prevent myopia but the long-term association between this exposure and myopia has not been well characterised. […] Spending more time outdoors during childhood was associated with reduced risk of myopia in young adulthood (multivariable odds ratio [OR] 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69, 0.98). Spending more time outdoors in later adolescence and young adulthood was associated with reduced risk of late-onset myopia (15 years of age, multivariable OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64, 0.98). Spending more time outdoors in both childhood and adolescence was associated with less myopia in young adulthood. […] Spending less time outdoors during childhood was associated with a higher risk of myopia in young adulthood and spending less time outdoors during late adolescence and early adulthood was associated with a lower risk of late onset myopia (15 years).

• #18 Myopia Prevention | Expert Myopia Control in Sydney

  https://smartvisionoptometry.com.au/eyecare/myopia-prevention/

  Shortsightedness, or myopia, is an eye focusing disorder affecting over 1.6 billion people worldwide. […] At Smart Vision Optometry, we are committed to providing effective myopia treatment and prevention to preserve vision and enhance quality of life. […] Recent research has shown that it is possible to slow down, and in many cases, stop the progression of myopia in children. Our comprehensive myopia control methods include vision therapy, the use of reading glasses, and encouraging increased time spent outdoors. […] To prevent myopia from worsening, follow these tips at home: […] Balance Indoor and Outdoor Time: Spend equal amounts of time outdoors using peripheral vision and indoors using central vision. Aim for a minimum of 80 minutes of outdoor activity daily. […] At Smart Vision Optometry, our experienced optometrists are highly trained in myopia prevention and control. We provide tailored treatments to slow the progression of myopia and enhance your child’s vision. […] Take the first step towards preserving your child’s vision. Schedule a myopia prevention consultation with Smart Vision Optometry. Our expert team is here to provide comprehensive eye care and effective myopia control treatments.

• #19 What is myopia and can you prevent it? | HCF

  https://www.hcf.com.au/health-agenda/health-care/common-conditions/myopia

  With short-sightedness on the rise, we investigate ways to manage and help prevent myopia in children and adults. […] Although the condition cant be cured, corrective glasses or contact lenses to adjust the focus onto the retina can improve vision and reduce future deterioration. Prof Sankaridurg recommends regular testing and monitoring to ensure you stay on top of treatment. […] A study involving Australian researchers found an extra 1.25 hours per day of outdoor time decreased the risk of myopia onset by 50%. Whitney agrees. As an optometrist, I often say to parents, more green time, less screen time, she says. […] To further protect their childrens eyes, she also recommends parents: limit screen time after school to two hours or less; encourage kids to spend 90 minutes a day outdoors while being sun smart, and being active for 60 minutes per day; follow the 20/20 rule: when reading, writing or using a screen, children should take a break for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of close focus on a screen or book; use the elbow rule: the distance between your childs eyes and any screen should roughly be the same length as your forearm. […] Schools may also become part of the solution through measures such as building lighter, glass-constructed classrooms, teaching more lessons outside or making outdoor time a bigger part of the curriculum.

• #20 Outdoor time is good for your kids’ eyesight. It protects against myopia : Shots – Health News : NPR

  https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/05/13/1250555639/kids-eyesight-myopia-near-sighted-nearsightedness-outdoor-play

  Research shows kids who spend two hours a day outside are less likely to develop myopia. […] Spending at least two hours outside each day is one of the most important things your kids can do to protect their eyesight. […] „We think that outdoor time is the best form of prevention for nearsightedness,” says Dr. Noha Ekdawi, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Wheaton, Ill. […] To get that eyesight protection, research suggests kids should be spending at least two hours a day outdoors every single day. […] „To me, it’s like, eat your vegetables. You have to spend time outside,” Ekdawi says. […] It doesn’t even matter if it’s sunny or cloudy or what the kids are doing. „You can go to the park, you can ride your bike, you can sit and be a tree, walk your dog. All these things count,” she says.

• #21

  http://www.sgh.com.sg/news/patient-care/Don%E2%80%99t-be-short-sighted-about-myopia-in-children

  Myopia, or near-sightedness, makes objects at a distance out of focus. […] Therefore, the prevention of blindness from myopia has to begin with preventing the condition from developing in the first place and this has to start from childhood. […] To curb the rising number of myopia cases, the National Myopia Prevention Programme was introduced in 2001, which includes annual vision screening in schools that is complemented by a comprehensive health promotion programme encouraging outdoor activities from a young age. […] It is recommended that your child gets outdoor play for at least two hours every day, on average. This could help delay or even prevent myopia. […] There is also evidence that specially designed contact lenses can slow down the progression of myopia, as well as a low dose of the medication atropine. […] Early intervention is key with myopia, as it can slow or even stop the progression of the condition. […] The SNEC Myopia Centre is collaborating with the eye-care community to detect and treat myopia, but parents must also play their part by seeking timely intervention.

• #22 Why is myopia rising in children, and what can parents do about it? | Children’s health | The Guardian

  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/sep/29/why-is-myopia-rising-in-children-and-what-can-parents-do-about-it

  More than one in three children and teenagers worldwide are shortsighted, according to the largest study of its kind, and there are set to be more than 740m myopia cases worldwide by 2050. […] The recommendation is 14 hours a week outside, either for sport or leisure. Many experts recommend screen use should be avoided for children under two years, limited to one hour a day up to age five, and then two hours a day until age 12, says Hammond. […] Teach your children healthy habits get off your screens and do some shared family outdoor activity. Not only will it be good for your childrens eyes, it reduces chances of the worrying rise in obesity levels and improves fitness. If there is a family history of myopia, make sure your childrens eyes are checked regularly, every year or so.

• #23 What is Myopia: Our advice to short-sightedness

  https://www.urbanoptics.ie/myopia

  Myopia, or short-sightedness, has become worryingly prevalent and has reached epidemic levels. An estimated 2.5 billion people will be affected worldwide by 2020*. […] Research indicates that children who are genetically predisposed to myopia (children with short-sighted parents) can reduce their chances of developing the condition by increasing the amount of time they spend outdoors. […] It is believed that natural, outdoor light on the retina protects the eye from lengthening and therefore becoming myopic. […] Around 14 hours a week spent outdoors has been shown to reduce the chance of a person becoming myopic – even in overcast weather. […] Unfortunately, once a child becomes short-sighted, the amount of time spent outdoors ceases to impact on the eye, so exposure to natural light is only preventative. It should however, be considered from as early in a childs life as possible.

• #24 Prevention of myopia, China

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7265928/

  Primary prevention focuses on reducing myopia incidence. The growing prevalence of high myopia and its attendant serious complications, call for primary prevention strategies, which are prioritized in the current Chinese national myopia control plan. Increasing time outdoors is most salient among these. […] Time outdoors and exposure to sunlight may lead to reduced incidence of myopia owing to light-stimulated increases in dopamine release from the retina. […] The approach of increasing time outdoors has been validated in school-based interventional research, with a 25.050.0% reduction of myopia incidence observed with an additional 12 hours per day outdoors over the course of 13 years. […] A school-based national programme of two hours per day outdoors has been implemented in Taiwan, China, and a 12-hour daily period of outdoor time is specified in the Chinese national myopia control programme.

• #25 What Is Nearsightedness, and What Causes It? | MiSight® 1 day

  https://misight.com/blog/what-nearsightedness-and-what-causes-it

  The pandemic caused childrens rates of myopia to climb even higher, probably because they were forced to remain indoors more than they ever had before. […] Our results serve to warn eye care professionals, and also policy makers, educators and parents, wrote the researchers, that collective efforts are needed to prevent childhood myopiaa potential public health crisis as a result of COVID-19. […] Given that the rate of nearsightedness among kids is unlikely to go down on its own, what can be done to help your own childs eyes? Limiting screen time is one sensible strategy. […] Its also important to make sure kids get lots of time outside. […] It is likely because the bright light outdoors even on a cloudy day releases dopamine in the outer retina which regulates eye growth. […] Theres now another way to help ward off myopia progression in kids.

• #26 Prevention of myopia, China

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7265928/

  Primary prevention focuses on reducing myopia incidence. The growing prevalence of high myopia and its attendant serious complications, call for primary prevention strategies, which are prioritized in the current Chinese national myopia control plan. Increasing time outdoors is most salient among these. […] Time outdoors and exposure to sunlight may lead to reduced incidence of myopia owing to light-stimulated increases in dopamine release from the retina. […] The approach of increasing time outdoors has been validated in school-based interventional research, with a 25.050.0% reduction of myopia incidence observed with an additional 12 hours per day outdoors over the course of 13 years. […] A school-based national programme of two hours per day outdoors has been implemented in Taiwan, China, and a 12-hour daily period of outdoor time is specified in the Chinese national myopia control programme.

• #27 How Much Outdoor Time Do Children Require? – Review of Myopia Management

  https://reviewofmm.com/how-much-outdoor-time-do-children-require/

  The same work revealed that increasing a child’s outdoor time by approximately 76 minutes per day will reduce their risk of incident myopia by 50%. […] The same systematic review and meta-analysis described above showed that while increased time outdoors is effective in preventing the onset of myopia, it was not effective in slowing progression in eyes that were already myopic. […] At least two hours per day, and the more the better. […] Indoor sport does not deliver the same myopia-preventing benefits as outdoor time. […] Even children with high levels of near work and a strong family history of parental myopia seem to benefit. […] A helpful starting point is to use evidence-based, freely available online resources such as Outdoor Play and Short-sightedness.

• #28 Outdoor time is good for your kids’ eyesight. It protects against myopia : Shots – Health News : NPR

  https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/05/13/1250555639/kids-eyesight-myopia-near-sighted-nearsightedness-outdoor-play

  Research shows kids who spend two hours a day outside are less likely to develop myopia. […] Spending at least two hours outside each day is one of the most important things your kids can do to protect their eyesight. […] „We think that outdoor time is the best form of prevention for nearsightedness,” says Dr. Noha Ekdawi, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Wheaton, Ill. […] To get that eyesight protection, research suggests kids should be spending at least two hours a day outdoors every single day. […] „To me, it’s like, eat your vegetables. You have to spend time outside,” Ekdawi says. […] It doesn’t even matter if it’s sunny or cloudy or what the kids are doing. „You can go to the park, you can ride your bike, you can sit and be a tree, walk your dog. All these things count,” she says.

• #29 How Much Outdoor Time Do Children Require? – Review of Myopia Management

  https://reviewofmm.com/how-much-outdoor-time-do-children-require/

  The same work revealed that increasing a child’s outdoor time by approximately 76 minutes per day will reduce their risk of incident myopia by 50%. […] The same systematic review and meta-analysis described above showed that while increased time outdoors is effective in preventing the onset of myopia, it was not effective in slowing progression in eyes that were already myopic. […] At least two hours per day, and the more the better. […] Indoor sport does not deliver the same myopia-preventing benefits as outdoor time. […] Even children with high levels of near work and a strong family history of parental myopia seem to benefit. […] A helpful starting point is to use evidence-based, freely available online resources such as Outdoor Play and Short-sightedness.

• #30 Advances in myopia prevention strategies for school-aged children: a comprehensive review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10466414/

  A randomized controlled trial conducted in China assigned students to engage in 40min of outdoor activities during school hours in addition to their regular curriculum. The intervention group showed a notable difference in the change of spherical equivalent refraction over 3years. […] A recent prospective, cluster-randomized trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of increasing outdoor hours per school day in halting myopia onset and progression. […] Various theories and mechanisms have been posited to elucidate the underlying factors contributing to the protective effect of outdoor activities. […] Behavioral approaches, which typically aim to decrease visual activity or near work that requires a significant amount of accommodation, are gaining popularity. Research indicates that engaging in near-work activities has been categorized with a higher likelihood of developing and worsening myopia.

• #31 Advances in myopia prevention strategies for school-aged children: a comprehensive review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10466414/

  A substantial cohort study called the Generation R study found a connection between myopia and augmented hours of computer usage among 9-year-olds. […] The COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to rely more on digital devices due to lockdown measures, which has led to concerns about the potential increased risk of myopia. […] In conclusion, the existing evidence consistently supports the effectiveness of atropine eye drops in preventing the development of myopia. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal concentration of atropine and the potential benefits of combining atropine eye drops with other optical devices. Other interventions like orthokeratology, soft contact lenses with myopia control features, and spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets have also shown promising results. However, despite their effectiveness, the widespread adoption of these treatments in clinical practice may be hindered by side effects, cost, complexity, and limited efficacy.

• #32 What is myopia and can you prevent it? | HCF

  https://www.hcf.com.au/health-agenda/health-care/common-conditions/myopia

  With short-sightedness on the rise, we investigate ways to manage and help prevent myopia in children and adults. […] Although the condition cant be cured, corrective glasses or contact lenses to adjust the focus onto the retina can improve vision and reduce future deterioration. Prof Sankaridurg recommends regular testing and monitoring to ensure you stay on top of treatment. […] A study involving Australian researchers found an extra 1.25 hours per day of outdoor time decreased the risk of myopia onset by 50%. Whitney agrees. As an optometrist, I often say to parents, more green time, less screen time, she says. […] To further protect their childrens eyes, she also recommends parents: limit screen time after school to two hours or less; encourage kids to spend 90 minutes a day outdoors while being sun smart, and being active for 60 minutes per day; follow the 20/20 rule: when reading, writing or using a screen, children should take a break for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of close focus on a screen or book; use the elbow rule: the distance between your childs eyes and any screen should roughly be the same length as your forearm. […] Schools may also become part of the solution through measures such as building lighter, glass-constructed classrooms, teaching more lessons outside or making outdoor time a bigger part of the curriculum.

• #33 Healthy Eyes, Clear Vision

  https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/growing-kid-healthy-eyes-clear-vision

  Various myopia control lenses can be used to slow down myopia progression in children. Please consult a community eye care optometrist for more details. […] Encourage your child to spend at least 2 hours outdoors every day. […] Do not let your child engage in near work for long, continuous stretches. […] Encourage your child to take frequent breaks when doing near work. […] Spending time outdoors has shown to have a protective effect against myopia and myopia progression. It is recommended that your child should spend at least 2 hours a day outdoors where there is sunlight exposure.

• #34 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Further, myopia carries long-term implications for eye health. Individuals with high levels of myopia are at a higher risk of developing sight-threatening conditions such as early onset of cataract, retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Taking measures to control myopia in childhood can reduce the risk of these complications later in life. […] How to Prevent Myopia from Worsening […] In recent years, research has provided compelling evidence linking increased outdoor time to a reduced risk of myopia in children. […] Several studies have consistently shown a strong association between spending more time outdoors and a lower incidence of myopia. […] The 20-20-20 rule is a simple yet effective technique for preventing eye strain, particularly in children who may spend prolonged periods engaged in near work such as reading or using digital devices. […] This rule encourages regular breaks and helps alleviate the strain on the eyes, potentially reducing the risk of myopia progression.

• #35 Myopia: How to Slow Progression in Your Child

  https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/slow-progression-child-myopia

  Peripheral defocus contact lenses: Children 6 to 12 years old may benefit from this special type of multifocal contact lens. […] This helps slow down the myopia. […] Vision therapy: This is a program of exercises designed for your child. […] It can train the eyes to adjust focus better between close and distant objects, which can help slow the advance of nearsightedness. […] Research shows that kids who spend more than 90 minutes outside per day slow down the progression of myopia. […] Teach kids to use the 20-20-20 rule. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends following a simple rule to reduce eyestrain: Every 20 minutes, focus your eyes on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

• #36 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Maintaining appropriate reading and screen distances is of utmost importance for eye health, particularly in the context of myopia prevention. […] By maintaining an optimal reading distance, typically around 35 to 40 centimetres (cm) from the eyes, we allow the eyes to focus more comfortably, reducing the strain on the eye muscles. […] Regular eye exams allow optometrists or ophthalmologists to assess the eyes overall health, detect any early signs of myopia, and monitor its progression. […] Early detection enables timely intervention, which can help prevent myopia from worsening. […] Pharmaceutical interventions, such as low-dose atropine eye drops, have been studied for their potential to control myopia progression. […] Atropine eye drops work by relaxing the eyes focusing system, slowing down eye growth and myopia progression.

• #37 What is myopia and can you prevent it? | HCF

  https://www.hcf.com.au/health-agenda/health-care/common-conditions/myopia

  With short-sightedness on the rise, we investigate ways to manage and help prevent myopia in children and adults. […] Although the condition cant be cured, corrective glasses or contact lenses to adjust the focus onto the retina can improve vision and reduce future deterioration. Prof Sankaridurg recommends regular testing and monitoring to ensure you stay on top of treatment. […] A study involving Australian researchers found an extra 1.25 hours per day of outdoor time decreased the risk of myopia onset by 50%. Whitney agrees. As an optometrist, I often say to parents, more green time, less screen time, she says. […] To further protect their childrens eyes, she also recommends parents: limit screen time after school to two hours or less; encourage kids to spend 90 minutes a day outdoors while being sun smart, and being active for 60 minutes per day; follow the 20/20 rule: when reading, writing or using a screen, children should take a break for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of close focus on a screen or book; use the elbow rule: the distance between your childs eyes and any screen should roughly be the same length as your forearm. […] Schools may also become part of the solution through measures such as building lighter, glass-constructed classrooms, teaching more lessons outside or making outdoor time a bigger part of the curriculum.

• #38 Why is myopia rising in children, and what can parents do about it? | Children’s health | The Guardian

  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/sep/29/why-is-myopia-rising-in-children-and-what-can-parents-do-about-it

  More than one in three children and teenagers worldwide are shortsighted, according to the largest study of its kind, and there are set to be more than 740m myopia cases worldwide by 2050. […] The recommendation is 14 hours a week outside, either for sport or leisure. Many experts recommend screen use should be avoided for children under two years, limited to one hour a day up to age five, and then two hours a day until age 12, says Hammond. […] Teach your children healthy habits get off your screens and do some shared family outdoor activity. Not only will it be good for your childrens eyes, it reduces chances of the worrying rise in obesity levels and improves fitness. If there is a family history of myopia, make sure your childrens eyes are checked regularly, every year or so.

• #39 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Maintaining appropriate reading and screen distances is of utmost importance for eye health, particularly in the context of myopia prevention. […] By maintaining an optimal reading distance, typically around 35 to 40 centimetres (cm) from the eyes, we allow the eyes to focus more comfortably, reducing the strain on the eye muscles. […] Regular eye exams allow optometrists or ophthalmologists to assess the eyes overall health, detect any early signs of myopia, and monitor its progression. […] Early detection enables timely intervention, which can help prevent myopia from worsening. […] Pharmaceutical interventions, such as low-dose atropine eye drops, have been studied for their potential to control myopia progression. […] Atropine eye drops work by relaxing the eyes focusing system, slowing down eye growth and myopia progression.

• #40 Short-sightedness or myopia: kids & teens | Raising Children Network

  https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/short-sightedness

  If youre short-sighted, distant objects look blurry. […] Short-sightedness typically starts during puberty. It tends to get worse as children move into the teenage years and young adulthood. […] All children should have an eye test before they start preschool, when theyre 3-5 years old. Most states and territories run free vision screening programs through local child and family health services or schools. […] Spending time outdoors each day can reduce the chance of your childs short-sightedness getting worse. […] Spending time outdoors can lower childrens and teenagers chances of being short-sighted. This is because time outdoors balances the time children and teenagers might spend focusing on things that are close to their eyes, like tablets and other screens.

• #41 Myopia in Children and Adolescents

  https://www.zeiss.com/vision-care/en/eye-health-and-care/myopia/myopia-in-children-and-adolescents.html

  Children over five should have an eye test at least once a year to detect any problems with their eyesight or rapid progressive myopia at an early stage. […] Slowing the progression of myopia in children and adolescents can be achieved through a range of options. If a child is already wearing glasses or has progressive myopia, an individualized treatment plan should be drawn up by an ophthalmologist and/or optometrist. […] Collaboration between the ophthalmologist and an optician is crucial in determining the optimal treatment be it through visual aids or pharmacologically or a combination of the two. The overall aim is to slow the progression of myopia through targeted myopia management and ideally to reduce eye growth to the level of non-myopic eyes, or as close as possible to it. […] If diagnosed and treated in time, myopia doesn’t have to be a one-way street to severe short-sightedness.

• #42 Myopia and Treatment of Myopia In Children

  https://aapos.org/glossary/myopia-and-treatment-of-myopia-in-children

  Myopia (near-sightedness) is a condition in which the front parts of the eye focus the incoming light rays that are coming from a distance to a point that is in front of the retina. […] There is currently a lot of research being done worldwide to try to understand myopia progression in children. […] An easy way to break up the focusing effort at near is to encourage kids to hold near work at least a foot from the face and to take breaks from near work every 20 minutes to look at a distance of 20 feet or more for a few seconds. Outdoor sunlight exposure has been shown to delay the start of nearsightedness in kids, so encouraging at least an hour of outdoor sunlight exposure per day (in a safe environment with sun protection) is a good practice. […] Treatments that are shown to help keep nearsightedness from getting much worse in kids include eye drops and specially designed contact lenses and glasses. […] Eye drops called low dose atropine have also been shown to help keep nearsightedness from getting much worse. […] A yearly eye exam is recommended to check on myopia.

• #43 Myopia | Child Myopia | Prevention & Control of Myopia in Children

  https://www.childmyopia.com/

  The risk of myopia in children increases when parents are myopic. The risk is nearly 1 in 2 when both parents are myopic. […] Myopia is a common eye health condition which causes blurred distance vision (short-sightedness). Myopia is not just a vision condition. No level of myopia is safe and regular eye tests are critical to its management. […] It has been established that managing myopia in its early stages can help to slow its progression, reducing the potential risk of developing high myopia and its associated conditions later in life. High myopia is a refractive error of at least -5.00D in either eye. This not only involves correcting the blurred distance vision associated with myopia but also employing management options proven to slow the progression of myopia in children. […] Treating myopia in children doesn’t mean just getting glasses. As research and technological innovations in this area continue, optometrists now have a range of new management options which mean they can not only provide clear vision but slow down the progression of myopia. […] As recommended by Optometry Australia and the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, take your child for their first eye test with an optometrist before starting school and at regular intervals thereafter.

• #44 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Maintaining appropriate reading and screen distances is of utmost importance for eye health, particularly in the context of myopia prevention. […] By maintaining an optimal reading distance, typically around 35 to 40 centimetres (cm) from the eyes, we allow the eyes to focus more comfortably, reducing the strain on the eye muscles. […] Regular eye exams allow optometrists or ophthalmologists to assess the eyes overall health, detect any early signs of myopia, and monitor its progression. […] Early detection enables timely intervention, which can help prevent myopia from worsening. […] Pharmaceutical interventions, such as low-dose atropine eye drops, have been studied for their potential to control myopia progression. […] Atropine eye drops work by relaxing the eyes focusing system, slowing down eye growth and myopia progression.

• #45 What age to start myopia control treatment for short-sighted children? – EYECARE CONCEPTS | MYOPIA CLINIC MELBOURNE

  https://www.eyecareconcepts.com.au/blog/what-age-to-start-myopia-control-treatment

  Today, more children in Australia and around the world are developing short-sightedness (myopia) and from an earlier age. […] But thankfully we can now slow childhood short-sightedness progression and help prevent high myopia with effective treatments which weren’t available a generation ago. […] We recommend starting treatment as soon as we have identified that your child is at high risk of developing high myopia (-6.00) in the future. This reduces your child’s lifelong risks of glaucoma, retinal detachment and myopic macular degeneration diseases with a potential for blindness. […] Recent studies have shown that spending more time outdoors (for at least 90 minutes a day) has a protective effect on the eye and can prevent or delay the onset of childhood short-sightedness. […] Low-dose atropine treatment is highly effective in slowing progression once a child is already short-sighted, but there is little clinical data at present on its effect for myopia prevention in children with normal eyesight.

• #46 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Research has indicated a strong correlation between healthy lifestyle choices and a reduced risk of myopia development and progression in children. […] Encouraging a balanced diet that includes essential nutrients for eye health, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein, can significantly support optimal visual health and potentially mitigate myopia. […] By promoting a holistic approach that incorporates a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and sufficient sleep, parents and educators can contribute to reducing the risk of myopia in children. […] Hence, it is essential to emphasise the significance of these lifestyle choices alongside other preventive measures, such as limiting screen time and maintaining appropriate reading distances, for comprehensive myopia control and long-term eye health.

• #47 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Research has indicated a strong correlation between healthy lifestyle choices and a reduced risk of myopia development and progression in children. […] Encouraging a balanced diet that includes essential nutrients for eye health, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein, can significantly support optimal visual health and potentially mitigate myopia. […] By promoting a holistic approach that incorporates a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and sufficient sleep, parents and educators can contribute to reducing the risk of myopia in children. […] Hence, it is essential to emphasise the significance of these lifestyle choices alongside other preventive measures, such as limiting screen time and maintaining appropriate reading distances, for comprehensive myopia control and long-term eye health.

• #48 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Research has indicated a strong correlation between healthy lifestyle choices and a reduced risk of myopia development and progression in children. […] Encouraging a balanced diet that includes essential nutrients for eye health, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein, can significantly support optimal visual health and potentially mitigate myopia. […] By promoting a holistic approach that incorporates a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and sufficient sleep, parents and educators can contribute to reducing the risk of myopia in children. […] Hence, it is essential to emphasise the significance of these lifestyle choices alongside other preventive measures, such as limiting screen time and maintaining appropriate reading distances, for comprehensive myopia control and long-term eye health.

• #49 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Research has indicated a strong correlation between healthy lifestyle choices and a reduced risk of myopia development and progression in children. […] Encouraging a balanced diet that includes essential nutrients for eye health, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein, can significantly support optimal visual health and potentially mitigate myopia. […] By promoting a holistic approach that incorporates a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and sufficient sleep, parents and educators can contribute to reducing the risk of myopia in children. […] Hence, it is essential to emphasise the significance of these lifestyle choices alongside other preventive measures, such as limiting screen time and maintaining appropriate reading distances, for comprehensive myopia control and long-term eye health.

• #50 Myopia Prevention: How to Control the Progression of Short-Sightedness – Asia Retina Eye Surgery Centre

  https://asiaretina.com/insights/myopia-prevention-how-to-control-the-progression-of-short-sightedness/

  Your best chance to control myopia is to catch it as early as possible. Once you notice your child having difficulty seeing the blackboards at school, trying to sit close to the television whenever he is watching or hear him complain about headache often, book an appointment immediately with your ophthalmologist for an eye exam. […] Furthermore, encourage your child to spend more time doing outdoor physical activities rather than playing the computer. Studies show that spending more time outdoors helps reduce the risk or slow the progression of myopia in children. […] Good reading habits such as keeping your book at arms’ length, having good room lighting, adopting good posture, taking frequent breaks every half an hour and not rubbing your eyes will contribute to keeping myopia at bay.

• #51 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Research has indicated a strong correlation between healthy lifestyle choices and a reduced risk of myopia development and progression in children. […] Encouraging a balanced diet that includes essential nutrients for eye health, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein, can significantly support optimal visual health and potentially mitigate myopia. […] By promoting a holistic approach that incorporates a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and sufficient sleep, parents and educators can contribute to reducing the risk of myopia in children. […] Hence, it is essential to emphasise the significance of these lifestyle choices alongside other preventive measures, such as limiting screen time and maintaining appropriate reading distances, for comprehensive myopia control and long-term eye health.

• #52 Short-sightedness (myopia)

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/short-sightedness/

  Short-sightedness (myopia) is a very common eye condition where you cannot see objects far away clearly. It’s usually corrected with glasses or contact lenses. […] Short-sightedness can usually be treated with glasses or contact lenses. […] These help your eyes focus correctly, so you can see distant objects more clearly. […] An optometrist may talk to you about specially designed glasses or contact lenses for your child, which may help slow down the development of myopia. This is called myopia management or myopia control. But it’s not available on the NHS as more research is needed. […] Some opticians may advise wearing a special lens overnight (orthokeratology). This can help you see better without glasses or contact lenses. […] If you’re worried about your or your child’s eyesight getting worse, talk to an optician.

• #53 Advances in myopia prevention strategies for school-aged children: a comprehensive review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10466414/

  A substantial cohort study called the Generation R study found a connection between myopia and augmented hours of computer usage among 9-year-olds. […] The COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to rely more on digital devices due to lockdown measures, which has led to concerns about the potential increased risk of myopia. […] In conclusion, the existing evidence consistently supports the effectiveness of atropine eye drops in preventing the development of myopia. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal concentration of atropine and the potential benefits of combining atropine eye drops with other optical devices. Other interventions like orthokeratology, soft contact lenses with myopia control features, and spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets have also shown promising results. However, despite their effectiveness, the widespread adoption of these treatments in clinical practice may be hindered by side effects, cost, complexity, and limited efficacy.

• #54 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Maintaining appropriate reading and screen distances is of utmost importance for eye health, particularly in the context of myopia prevention. […] By maintaining an optimal reading distance, typically around 35 to 40 centimetres (cm) from the eyes, we allow the eyes to focus more comfortably, reducing the strain on the eye muscles. […] Regular eye exams allow optometrists or ophthalmologists to assess the eyes overall health, detect any early signs of myopia, and monitor its progression. […] Early detection enables timely intervention, which can help prevent myopia from worsening. […] Pharmaceutical interventions, such as low-dose atropine eye drops, have been studied for their potential to control myopia progression. […] Atropine eye drops work by relaxing the eyes focusing system, slowing down eye growth and myopia progression.

• #55 Myopia – EyeWiki

  https://eyewiki.org/Myopia

  Atropine 0.01% is the best concentration because it has minimal side effects and has comparable efficacy in controlling myopia progression. […] The 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% atropine eye drops reduced myopia progression along with a concentration-dependent response, 0.05% atropine was most effective in controlling SE progression and AL elongation over 1 year.

• #56 Atropine eye drops for myopia control in children | My Kids Vision

  https://www.mykidsvision.org/knowledge-centre/atropine-eye-drops-for-myopia-control-in-children

  Atropine eye drops 0.01%, 0.025% or 0.05% for myopia control have evidence for use in children aged 4 to 12 years at the start of treatment, and for up to three years. […] Myopia control is particularly important in children, because this is the stage in life when myopia is most likely to progress or worsen quickly. Taking action to control progression of myopia in children during this fast progression stage in their life will therefore likely achieve the most gains. […] Atropine 0.01% to 0.05% has been shown to have minimal side effects in children who were 4 to 12 years of age at the start of treatment. […] Atropine does not correct blurred vision from myopia, it only works to slow myopia progression. […] Atropine 0.02% and 0.025% have been shown to slow myopia progression by about one-third, and atropine 0.05% by about one-half, compared to children on placebo treatment. […] The low concentrations of atropine used in myopia management have far less side effects for long term use, and have proven to be safe and effective for slowing myopia progression in children from age 4 to 14 at the start of treatment, and for up to two to three years.

• #57 Myopia – EyeWiki

  https://eyewiki.org/Myopia

  Atropine 0.01% is the best concentration because it has minimal side effects and has comparable efficacy in controlling myopia progression. […] The 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% atropine eye drops reduced myopia progression along with a concentration-dependent response, 0.05% atropine was most effective in controlling SE progression and AL elongation over 1 year.

• #58 Atropine eye drops for myopia control in children | My Kids Vision

  https://www.mykidsvision.org/knowledge-centre/atropine-eye-drops-for-myopia-control-in-children

  Atropine eye drops 0.01%, 0.025% or 0.05% for myopia control have evidence for use in children aged 4 to 12 years at the start of treatment, and for up to three years. […] Myopia control is particularly important in children, because this is the stage in life when myopia is most likely to progress or worsen quickly. Taking action to control progression of myopia in children during this fast progression stage in their life will therefore likely achieve the most gains. […] Atropine 0.01% to 0.05% has been shown to have minimal side effects in children who were 4 to 12 years of age at the start of treatment. […] Atropine does not correct blurred vision from myopia, it only works to slow myopia progression. […] Atropine 0.02% and 0.025% have been shown to slow myopia progression by about one-third, and atropine 0.05% by about one-half, compared to children on placebo treatment. […] The low concentrations of atropine used in myopia management have far less side effects for long term use, and have proven to be safe and effective for slowing myopia progression in children from age 4 to 14 at the start of treatment, and for up to two to three years.

• #59 Atropine eye drops for myopia control in children | My Kids Vision

  https://www.mykidsvision.org/knowledge-centre/atropine-eye-drops-for-myopia-control-in-children

  Atropine eye drops 0.01%, 0.025% or 0.05% for myopia control have evidence for use in children aged 4 to 12 years at the start of treatment, and for up to three years. […] Myopia control is particularly important in children, because this is the stage in life when myopia is most likely to progress or worsen quickly. Taking action to control progression of myopia in children during this fast progression stage in their life will therefore likely achieve the most gains. […] Atropine 0.01% to 0.05% has been shown to have minimal side effects in children who were 4 to 12 years of age at the start of treatment. […] Atropine does not correct blurred vision from myopia, it only works to slow myopia progression. […] Atropine 0.02% and 0.025% have been shown to slow myopia progression by about one-third, and atropine 0.05% by about one-half, compared to children on placebo treatment. […] The low concentrations of atropine used in myopia management have far less side effects for long term use, and have proven to be safe and effective for slowing myopia progression in children from age 4 to 14 at the start of treatment, and for up to two to three years.

• #60 Myopia: How to Slow Progression in Your Child

  https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/slow-progression-child-myopia

  The United States is fast becoming a nearsighted nation: More than 40% of Americans have myopia, and the number is climbing fast, especially for children. […] The good news is that there are steps you can take now to slow the progression of your childs nearsightedness and protect their future eyesight. […] If left unchecked, it can advance to high myopia, which can cause serious sight-threatening conditions in adulthood, including: Retinal detachment, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Crossed eyes. […] Once it starts, it can progress at the rate of 0.50 diopters per year. […] These are some of the therapies that have proved to be effective: Low-dose atropine drops: These drops are usually given at bedtime for 2 or 3 years to children who are between 5 and 18 years of age. […] Some eye doctors report that for up to 90% of kids who use the drops, the rate of myopia progression slows by about half.

• #61 Myopia: How to Slow Progression in Your Child

  https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/slow-progression-child-myopia

  Peripheral defocus contact lenses: Children 6 to 12 years old may benefit from this special type of multifocal contact lens. […] This helps slow down the myopia. […] Vision therapy: This is a program of exercises designed for your child. […] It can train the eyes to adjust focus better between close and distant objects, which can help slow the advance of nearsightedness. […] Research shows that kids who spend more than 90 minutes outside per day slow down the progression of myopia. […] Teach kids to use the 20-20-20 rule. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends following a simple rule to reduce eyestrain: Every 20 minutes, focus your eyes on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

• #62 Myopia management: Latest Evidence & Treatment OptionsLook After Your Eyes

  https://lookafteryoureyes.org/eye-care/myopia-management-control-eye-care-for-children-who-are-short-sighted/

  There are two main treatments to try to reduce the progression of myopia: specially designed glasses or specially designed contact lenses. […] Based on current research, orthokeratology lenses are the most effective at slowing down the growth of the eye. Myopia management glasses and myopia management contact lenses have similar results in terms of reducing the level of myopia. […] Myopia management may slow down the rate at which myopia gets worse compared with standard vision correction. […] Myopia management may reduce the risk of your child having eye problems as a result of high myopia later in life. However, it is very likely that there will still be some risk of myopia-related eye problems in the future. It is not possible to remove the risk completely. […] Spending time outdoors does appear to help prevent or delay myopia in children at higher risk of developing it. […] Your child will still be prescribed traditional glasses or contact lenses if they are diagnosed with myopia. These will improve how well your child can see, but will not slow myopia progression.

• #63

  https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/myopia-control-in-children

  Studies show myopia is becoming more common among children. […] Doctors are looking at ways to slow the progression of myopia in children. While myopia cannot be reversed, the goal of treatment is to keep it from getting worse. This can protect a child’s eye health in the future, despite still needing to wear glasses or contact lenses. […] When given to children in small amounts for 2 to 3 years, atropine eye drops may slow the progression of myopia. […] These special contact lenses are worn by children 6 to 12 years of age with myopia. […] Blurring side vision is thought to slow eye growth and limit myopia. […] Orthokeratology is a contact lens that a child wears overnight to correct blurry distance vision during the day. […] Make sure your child spends more time outdoors. Limit screen time on computers or other digital devices. By balancing screen time with outdoor time, you may help limit your child’s myopia and protect their vision as they grow older.

• #64 Myopia Control | 4 Ways to Prevent Short-sightedness | Westgate Optometrists

  https://www.westopt.nz/myopia-control

  Orthokeratology (night time lenses) – these lenses reshape the cornea as your child sleeps, so when they wake up in the morning and remove the lenses, they are able to see clearly without having to wear any glasses or contacts. It also has the desirable effect of slowing down the progression of the eyeball growth by a reported 50%, making it arguably the most proven effective treatment available. […] Multifocal soft contact lenses – to be worn throughout the day, and will replace the need for glasses wear on a daily basis. The mechanism is similar to orthokeratology lenses in that it tricks the eye into slowing down the growth of the eyes. […] Atropine eye drops – drops to be put in just before bedtime. Only prescribed in a very low dosage, it is rather effective in inhibiting the worsening of the near-sightedness – however recent research may have shown that it is not so effective at slowing down the growth of the eyeball, which may still result in an increased risk of eye disease in the future.

• #65 Advances in myopia prevention strategies for school-aged children: a comprehensive review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10466414/

  Myopia has significantly risen in East and Southeast Asia, and the pathological outcomes of this condition, such as myopic maculopathy and optic neuropathy linked to high myopia, have emerged as leading causes of irreversible vision loss. Addressing this issue requires strategies to reduce myopia prevalence and prevent progression to high myopia. Encouraging outdoor activities for schoolchildren and reducing near-work and screen time can effectively prevent myopia development, offering a safe intervention that promotes healthier habits. Several clinical approaches can be employed to decelerate myopia progression, such as administering low-dose atropine eye drops (0.05%), utilizing orthokeratology lenses, implementing soft contact lenses equipped with myopia control features, and incorporating spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets.

• #66 Myopia Management | CooperVision

  https://coopervision.com/myopia-management

  Their nearsightedness shouldnt. […] MiSight 1 day contact lenses are the first and ONLY soft contact lenses that are FDA approved* to slow the progression of myopia in children 8-12 years of age at initiation of treatment. […] Helping your child manage their nearsightedness starts with a comprehensive eye exam. Your Eye Care Professional will be able to determine the amount of vision correction your child needs now, and tell you if theyre a good candidate for wearing MiSight 1 day contact lenses to help slow future myopia progression. […] MiSight 1 day contact lenses are FDA-approved* to slow the progression of myopia in children 8 to 12 years of age at initiation of treatment1. […] The progression of myopia slowed by 59% on average in children who wore MiSight 1 day contact lenses as compared to those who didnt1.

• #67 Myopia Management | CooperVision

  https://coopervision.com/myopia-management

  Their nearsightedness shouldnt. […] MiSight 1 day contact lenses are the first and ONLY soft contact lenses that are FDA approved* to slow the progression of myopia in children 8-12 years of age at initiation of treatment. […] Helping your child manage their nearsightedness starts with a comprehensive eye exam. Your Eye Care Professional will be able to determine the amount of vision correction your child needs now, and tell you if theyre a good candidate for wearing MiSight 1 day contact lenses to help slow future myopia progression. […] MiSight 1 day contact lenses are FDA-approved* to slow the progression of myopia in children 8 to 12 years of age at initiation of treatment1. […] The progression of myopia slowed by 59% on average in children who wore MiSight 1 day contact lenses as compared to those who didnt1.

• #68 Myopia management: Latest Evidence & Treatment OptionsLook After Your Eyes

  https://lookafteryoureyes.org/eye-care/myopia-management-control-eye-care-for-children-who-are-short-sighted/

  There are two main treatments to try to reduce the progression of myopia: specially designed glasses or specially designed contact lenses. […] Based on current research, orthokeratology lenses are the most effective at slowing down the growth of the eye. Myopia management glasses and myopia management contact lenses have similar results in terms of reducing the level of myopia. […] Myopia management may slow down the rate at which myopia gets worse compared with standard vision correction. […] Myopia management may reduce the risk of your child having eye problems as a result of high myopia later in life. However, it is very likely that there will still be some risk of myopia-related eye problems in the future. It is not possible to remove the risk completely. […] Spending time outdoors does appear to help prevent or delay myopia in children at higher risk of developing it. […] Your child will still be prescribed traditional glasses or contact lenses if they are diagnosed with myopia. These will improve how well your child can see, but will not slow myopia progression.

• #69 Myopia Prevention | Eye Doctor in West New York, NJ

  https://www.drromeu.com/services/myopia-prevention-in-west-new-york-nj.html

  Take regular vision breaks. […] If you or your child have already been diagnosed with myopia, you may wish to consider a myopia control solution to prevent the progression of your condition. […] Orthokeratology or ortho-k is an innovative therapy that enables myopic patients to enjoy clear vision without using glasses or contact lenses for an entire day at a time. […] It has been shown to be effective in slowing and even halting the progression of myopia. […] A low dose of atropine eye drops administered at night before bed can significantly slow the progression of childhood myopia. […] Research has shown that myopic children who wear multifocal soft contact lenses on a daily basis can realistically experience as much as a 50% reduction in the progression of their myopia compared who those who dont use them.

• #70 Myopia management: Latest Evidence & Treatment OptionsLook After Your Eyes

  https://lookafteryoureyes.org/eye-care/myopia-management-control-eye-care-for-children-who-are-short-sighted/

  There are two main treatments to try to reduce the progression of myopia: specially designed glasses or specially designed contact lenses. […] Based on current research, orthokeratology lenses are the most effective at slowing down the growth of the eye. Myopia management glasses and myopia management contact lenses have similar results in terms of reducing the level of myopia. […] Myopia management may slow down the rate at which myopia gets worse compared with standard vision correction. […] Myopia management may reduce the risk of your child having eye problems as a result of high myopia later in life. However, it is very likely that there will still be some risk of myopia-related eye problems in the future. It is not possible to remove the risk completely. […] Spending time outdoors does appear to help prevent or delay myopia in children at higher risk of developing it. […] Your child will still be prescribed traditional glasses or contact lenses if they are diagnosed with myopia. These will improve how well your child can see, but will not slow myopia progression.

• #71 Advances in myopia prevention strategies for school-aged children: a comprehensive review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10466414/

  Myopia has significantly risen in East and Southeast Asia, and the pathological outcomes of this condition, such as myopic maculopathy and optic neuropathy linked to high myopia, have emerged as leading causes of irreversible vision loss. Addressing this issue requires strategies to reduce myopia prevalence and prevent progression to high myopia. Encouraging outdoor activities for schoolchildren and reducing near-work and screen time can effectively prevent myopia development, offering a safe intervention that promotes healthier habits. Several clinical approaches can be employed to decelerate myopia progression, such as administering low-dose atropine eye drops (0.05%), utilizing orthokeratology lenses, implementing soft contact lenses equipped with myopia control features, and incorporating spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets.

• #72 Myopia Treatment & Myopia Control | Custom EyeCare Newcastle

  https://customeyecare.com.au/myopia-short-sightedness/

  Some people believe that not increasing the myopic prescription in glasses to the full strength, and accepting slightly blurry vision, will help the worsening shortsightedness, but this has been disproved. […] Besides medications, there are two excellent contact lens options for controlling myopia in children. […] Orthokeratology treatment involves the wearing of custom-made rigid contact lenses (or “moulds”) to gently reshape the cornea whilst we sleep. […] Orthokeratology has been a very successful, well researched, effective treatment for myopia control for over 20 years. […] Another proven treatment in the fight against myopia progression is daily-wear soft contact lenses specifically designed for controlling short sightedness. […] MiyoSmart is an innovative spectacle lens for myopia control developed by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for Hoya.

• #73 Myopia: A Global Epidemic – Retina Today

  https://retinatoday.com/articles/2019-sept/myopia-a-global-epidemic

  Myopia is the most common ocular disorder worldwide, it is the leading cause of visual impairment in children, and its incidence is increasing rapidly. […] The rapidly increasing incidence of myopia combined with its significant social and economic burdens have spurred research on causal factors, possible treatments, and efforts at prevention. […] Increased outdoor activity has been shown to prevent the onset of myopia, with a possible dose-response relationship between time spent outdoors and the risk of incident myopia. […] This finding suggests that exposure to light may play a major role in myopia prevention. […] Some have proposed using contact lenses that emphasize peripheral myopic defocus and thus minimize hyperopic defocus to help decrease myopic progression. […] Another area of interest is children’s use of bifocal glasses to slow myopia by reducing accommodative lag and hyperopic defocus.

• #74

  https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/glasses-stop-myopia-are-successful-multi-site-trial

  Glasses to stop myopia or nearsightedness in children have been shown to work in a multi-site trial of 256 children and will go on sale later this year outside the United States. […] After a year, the trial showed a reduction in myopia progression of 59 percent and 74 percent, according to a white paper published in Review of Myopia Management. […] For the very first time there are glasses that, when you wear them, actually slow or even stop the progression of myopia, said Jay Neitz, who is also co-founder of SightGlass Vision Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., which is focused on ending myopia. […] Early intervention is key to preventing high myopia from developing.

• #75 What age to start myopia control treatment for short-sighted children? – EYECARE CONCEPTS | MYOPIA CLINIC MELBOURNE

  https://www.eyecareconcepts.com.au/blog/what-age-to-start-myopia-control-treatment

  There are specific tests we do to accurately measure the refractive status of a young child. […] We would assess the possibility of prescribing low-dose atropine for myopia prevention in a child without myopia on a case-by-case basis by weighing up the potential benefits vs risks. […] Certain glasses may help children who have difficulties with near focusing and eyestrain that can increase their risk of myopia development.

• #76 Advances in myopia prevention strategies for school-aged children: a comprehensive review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10466414/

  A substantial cohort study called the Generation R study found a connection between myopia and augmented hours of computer usage among 9-year-olds. […] The COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to rely more on digital devices due to lockdown measures, which has led to concerns about the potential increased risk of myopia. […] In conclusion, the existing evidence consistently supports the effectiveness of atropine eye drops in preventing the development of myopia. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal concentration of atropine and the potential benefits of combining atropine eye drops with other optical devices. Other interventions like orthokeratology, soft contact lenses with myopia control features, and spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets have also shown promising results. However, despite their effectiveness, the widespread adoption of these treatments in clinical practice may be hindered by side effects, cost, complexity, and limited efficacy.

• #77 How Much Outdoor Time Do Children Require? – Review of Myopia Management

  https://reviewofmm.com/how-much-outdoor-time-do-children-require/

  The same work revealed that increasing a child’s outdoor time by approximately 76 minutes per day will reduce their risk of incident myopia by 50%. […] The same systematic review and meta-analysis described above showed that while increased time outdoors is effective in preventing the onset of myopia, it was not effective in slowing progression in eyes that were already myopic. […] At least two hours per day, and the more the better. […] Indoor sport does not deliver the same myopia-preventing benefits as outdoor time. […] Even children with high levels of near work and a strong family history of parental myopia seem to benefit. […] A helpful starting point is to use evidence-based, freely available online resources such as Outdoor Play and Short-sightedness.

• #78 Epidemiology of myopia and prevention of myopia progression in children in East Asia: a review | HKMJ

  https://www.hkmj.org/abstracts/v24n6/602.htm

  Myopia (short-sightedness) exhibits high prevalence in East Asia. […] Methods to mitigate myopia progression are important in preventing the vision-threatening complications associated with high myopia. […] Atropine eye drops and pirenzepine eye gel are highly effective for controlling myopia progression in children. […] Orthokeratology, peripheral defocus contact lenses, bifocal or progressive addition spectacles, and increased involvement in outdoor activities are also effective for controlling myopia progression; however, myopia undercorrection and single vision contact lenses are ineffective. […] Although various methods are effective for controlling myopia progression in children, no curative remedy exists for myopia. […] Health care professionals should be aware of the available methods, as well as their risks and benefits.

• #79 Myopia Control | 4 Ways to Prevent Short-sightedness | Westgate Optometrists

  https://www.westopt.nz/myopia-control

  NEW: Specialist spectacle lenses – to be worn just like normal glasses. Various manufacturers have had a go at making a spectacle lens to mimic the effect of the proven contact lens solutions mentioned above, with varying success. […] On the whole, these myopia control measures have been shown to be effective at reducing the rate of worsening by between 30-60%. However, this reduction exponentially reduces the risk of your child developing the aforementioned complications that is typically associated with high levels of myopia. […] Yes, there has been plenty of research into the efficacy of each type of treatments.

• #80 Myopia management: Latest Evidence & Treatment OptionsLook After Your Eyes

  https://lookafteryoureyes.org/eye-care/myopia-management-control-eye-care-for-children-who-are-short-sighted/

  Trying to slow down how quickly myopia (short-sightedness) gets worse is called myopia management. Some treatments have been developed for this, including specially designed contact lenses and glasses. Current evidence suggests that using special contact lenses or glasses may reduce progression of the level of myopia by 40% to 60%. This reduction is usually seen over one to three years, but most of this effect happens early on during treatment. Treatment may need to be continued to maintain this reduction. […] Myopia management may reduce the risk of your child developing myopia-related eye problems in adulthood, but it will not take away this risk altogether. Being less myopic may mean your child is slightly less likely to be affected by serious eye conditions in the future, but we do not yet have enough evidence to be sure of this.

• #81 The Ophthalmologist | Shutting Down Short-Sightedness

  https://theophthalmologist.com/issues/2023/articles/jun/shutting-down-short-sightedness

  The European Network for Myopia Prevention and Control was founded to share the knowledge and experiences in this field, but also to collaborate in organizing conferences, education and trans-European scientific projects. […] The primary myopia control method in France is defocus glasses because the cost is generally acceptable, being approximately 100 higher than regular glasses, and is clearly easy to adapt. […] In Italy, outdoor activity is mainly promoted by pediatric ophthalmologists, pediatricians, and, in some parts of the country, by school teachers. […] Various treatments are used in Portugal, including low-dose atropine, novel myopia control contact lenses and glasses, and ortho-k. […] There are several limitations to our knowledge on myopia, as the underlying causal mechanisms are still not fully understood. Most importantly, scientific evidence, on the effect of treating myopia progression and the prevention of pathological myopia, is lacking. […] I believe that artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can help develop non-invasive diagnostics of myopia; for example, based on fundus pictures, that would not need cycloplegia and enable us to conduct massive screening projects.

• #82 How to Prevent Myopia in Children: Symptoms & Treatment

  https://www.mountelizabeth.com.sg/health-plus/article/myopia-children-prevention-treatment

  About 11% of 6-year-olds in Singapore are reportedly myopic. Dr Jimmy Lim, ophthalmologist at Gleneagles Hospital, tells us more about the condition and what parents can do to prevent it. […] Parents play a significant role in promoting healthy habits that could prevent myopia or myopia progression. […] Greater exposure to natural light is significant in helping children avoid developing myopia, or slow down myopia progression. […] Dr Lim recommends parents encourage their children to pursue outdoor activities such as bike rides or playing sports, to help children get more ambient light exposure. […] While childhood myopia cannot be reversed, you can take steps to slow it down or prevent it. […] Parents should encourage healthy eye habits such as reduced screen time and engaging in more outdoor activities to prevent their eyesight from worsening.

• #83

  http://www.sgh.com.sg/news/patient-care/Don%E2%80%99t-be-short-sighted-about-myopia-in-children

  Myopia, or near-sightedness, makes objects at a distance out of focus. […] Therefore, the prevention of blindness from myopia has to begin with preventing the condition from developing in the first place and this has to start from childhood. […] To curb the rising number of myopia cases, the National Myopia Prevention Programme was introduced in 2001, which includes annual vision screening in schools that is complemented by a comprehensive health promotion programme encouraging outdoor activities from a young age. […] It is recommended that your child gets outdoor play for at least two hours every day, on average. This could help delay or even prevent myopia. […] There is also evidence that specially designed contact lenses can slow down the progression of myopia, as well as a low dose of the medication atropine. […] Early intervention is key with myopia, as it can slow or even stop the progression of the condition. […] The SNEC Myopia Centre is collaborating with the eye-care community to detect and treat myopia, but parents must also play their part by seeking timely intervention.

• #84 Why is myopia rising in children, and what can parents do about it? | Children’s health | The Guardian

  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/sep/29/why-is-myopia-rising-in-children-and-what-can-parents-do-about-it

  More than one in three children and teenagers worldwide are shortsighted, according to the largest study of its kind, and there are set to be more than 740m myopia cases worldwide by 2050. […] The recommendation is 14 hours a week outside, either for sport or leisure. Many experts recommend screen use should be avoided for children under two years, limited to one hour a day up to age five, and then two hours a day until age 12, says Hammond. […] Teach your children healthy habits get off your screens and do some shared family outdoor activity. Not only will it be good for your childrens eyes, it reduces chances of the worrying rise in obesity levels and improves fitness. If there is a family history of myopia, make sure your childrens eyes are checked regularly, every year or so.

• #85 What is myopia and can you prevent it? | HCF

  https://www.hcf.com.au/health-agenda/health-care/common-conditions/myopia

  With short-sightedness on the rise, we investigate ways to manage and help prevent myopia in children and adults. […] Although the condition cant be cured, corrective glasses or contact lenses to adjust the focus onto the retina can improve vision and reduce future deterioration. Prof Sankaridurg recommends regular testing and monitoring to ensure you stay on top of treatment. […] A study involving Australian researchers found an extra 1.25 hours per day of outdoor time decreased the risk of myopia onset by 50%. Whitney agrees. As an optometrist, I often say to parents, more green time, less screen time, she says. […] To further protect their childrens eyes, she also recommends parents: limit screen time after school to two hours or less; encourage kids to spend 90 minutes a day outdoors while being sun smart, and being active for 60 minutes per day; follow the 20/20 rule: when reading, writing or using a screen, children should take a break for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of close focus on a screen or book; use the elbow rule: the distance between your childs eyes and any screen should roughly be the same length as your forearm. […] Schools may also become part of the solution through measures such as building lighter, glass-constructed classrooms, teaching more lessons outside or making outdoor time a bigger part of the curriculum.

• #86 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Maintaining appropriate reading and screen distances is of utmost importance for eye health, particularly in the context of myopia prevention. […] By maintaining an optimal reading distance, typically around 35 to 40 centimetres (cm) from the eyes, we allow the eyes to focus more comfortably, reducing the strain on the eye muscles. […] Regular eye exams allow optometrists or ophthalmologists to assess the eyes overall health, detect any early signs of myopia, and monitor its progression. […] Early detection enables timely intervention, which can help prevent myopia from worsening. […] Pharmaceutical interventions, such as low-dose atropine eye drops, have been studied for their potential to control myopia progression. […] Atropine eye drops work by relaxing the eyes focusing system, slowing down eye growth and myopia progression.

• #87 Myopia Prevention: How to Control the Progression of Short-Sightedness – Asia Retina Eye Surgery Centre

  https://asiaretina.com/insights/myopia-prevention-how-to-control-the-progression-of-short-sightedness/

  Your best chance to control myopia is to catch it as early as possible. Once you notice your child having difficulty seeing the blackboards at school, trying to sit close to the television whenever he is watching or hear him complain about headache often, book an appointment immediately with your ophthalmologist for an eye exam. […] Furthermore, encourage your child to spend more time doing outdoor physical activities rather than playing the computer. Studies show that spending more time outdoors helps reduce the risk or slow the progression of myopia in children. […] Good reading habits such as keeping your book at arms’ length, having good room lighting, adopting good posture, taking frequent breaks every half an hour and not rubbing your eyes will contribute to keeping myopia at bay.

• #88 ZEISS Myopia management lenses

  https://www.zeiss.com/vision-care/en/need-new-lenses/myopia-management-lenses.html

  Is your little one shortsighted or showing signs of myopia? […] Managing progressive myopia in children early on can help avoid serious vision issues later in life. ZEISS Myopia management lenses are designed to help slow the progression of myopia in kids up to 12 years old and give them clear, comfortable vision at the same time. […] Early onset of myopia implies more years of progression, but it also tends to progress faster in younger children. Myopes below the age of seven are therefore at greater risk of developing high myopia. […] Thats why the best time to consult a professional and start treating myopia is as soon as possible. […] At least two hours of outdoor time is recommended to prevent or delay the onset of myopia. […] Early detection and management of myopia are key. We recommend annual eye exams.

• #89 Myopia Prevention: How to Control the Progression of Short-Sightedness – Asia Retina Eye Surgery Centre

  https://asiaretina.com/insights/myopia-prevention-how-to-control-the-progression-of-short-sightedness/

  Your best chance to control myopia is to catch it as early as possible. Once you notice your child having difficulty seeing the blackboards at school, trying to sit close to the television whenever he is watching or hear him complain about headache often, book an appointment immediately with your ophthalmologist for an eye exam. […] Furthermore, encourage your child to spend more time doing outdoor physical activities rather than playing the computer. Studies show that spending more time outdoors helps reduce the risk or slow the progression of myopia in children. […] Good reading habits such as keeping your book at arms’ length, having good room lighting, adopting good posture, taking frequent breaks every half an hour and not rubbing your eyes will contribute to keeping myopia at bay.

• #90 Child myopia – an emerging health issue

  https://visioneyeinstitute.com.au/eyematters/child-myopia-an-emerging-health-issue/

  Myopia (also called short-sightedness) is set to become the leading cause of permanent blindness worldwide. By 2050, it is expected that 50% of the world’s population will be affected – this includes approximately 10% of people having the severe form. This trend is a critical issue because the earlier a child gets myopia, the more severe it can become. […] Parents are encouraged to educate themselves about myopia and the steps they can take to reduce the risk of their child developing the condition. […] You can reduce the risk of your child developing myopia by limiting their time on near-vision tasks such as reading or using electronic devices. […] Children should also have plenty of time outside – ideally two hours every day. […] For children who have already developed myopia, early detection provides the best chance of slowing down its progression and reducing the risk of serious complications later in life. Children should have their vision tested by an optometrist before starting school, and then regularly every two years afterwards. If the myopia is shown to be progressing, it is important to discuss possible ways in which to prevent further deterioration.

• #91 Prevention of myopia, China

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7265928/

  Myopia (or short-sightedness) is a global health and social problem. Researchers have estimated that in China, myopia caused a 244 billion United States dollars loss in productivity in 2015. Chinas approach to its burden of childhood myopia illustrates the problems magnitude, but also outlines solutions that could be potentially relevant to other countries. Here we outline Chinas national myopia policy, discuss the related scientific evidence and conclude with specific recommendations for the way forward. […] Myopia control efforts have focused on children and adolescents because prevention is only possible in these age groups, progression largely occurs during this stage of life and poor vision from uncorrected myopia limits childrens educational performance. […] Following a declaration in 2018 by Chinas President Xi Jinping on how the high prevalence of myopia in schoolchildren affects their health and well-being, the central governments State Council released a comprehensive plan for the prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents. The plan describes key roles for the Ministry of Education and the National Health Commission, with support from finance and publicity departments. Essential goals, for which local governments are provided precise performance targets, include very cautious targets of reducing the myopia prevalence among schoolchildren by over 0.5% per year from 2018 to 2023, and to achieve a figure below 70.0% among high school students by 2030, through preventive interventions.

• #92

  http://www.sgh.com.sg/news/patient-care/Don%E2%80%99t-be-short-sighted-about-myopia-in-children

  Myopia, or near-sightedness, makes objects at a distance out of focus. […] Therefore, the prevention of blindness from myopia has to begin with preventing the condition from developing in the first place and this has to start from childhood. […] To curb the rising number of myopia cases, the National Myopia Prevention Programme was introduced in 2001, which includes annual vision screening in schools that is complemented by a comprehensive health promotion programme encouraging outdoor activities from a young age. […] It is recommended that your child gets outdoor play for at least two hours every day, on average. This could help delay or even prevent myopia. […] There is also evidence that specially designed contact lenses can slow down the progression of myopia, as well as a low dose of the medication atropine. […] Early intervention is key with myopia, as it can slow or even stop the progression of the condition. […] The SNEC Myopia Centre is collaborating with the eye-care community to detect and treat myopia, but parents must also play their part by seeking timely intervention.

• #93 Prevention of myopia, China

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7265928/

  Primary prevention focuses on reducing myopia incidence. The growing prevalence of high myopia and its attendant serious complications, call for primary prevention strategies, which are prioritized in the current Chinese national myopia control plan. Increasing time outdoors is most salient among these. […] Time outdoors and exposure to sunlight may lead to reduced incidence of myopia owing to light-stimulated increases in dopamine release from the retina. […] The approach of increasing time outdoors has been validated in school-based interventional research, with a 25.050.0% reduction of myopia incidence observed with an additional 12 hours per day outdoors over the course of 13 years. […] A school-based national programme of two hours per day outdoors has been implemented in Taiwan, China, and a 12-hour daily period of outdoor time is specified in the Chinese national myopia control programme.

• #94 Prevention of myopia, China

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7265928/

  Myopia (or short-sightedness) is a global health and social problem. Researchers have estimated that in China, myopia caused a 244 billion United States dollars loss in productivity in 2015. Chinas approach to its burden of childhood myopia illustrates the problems magnitude, but also outlines solutions that could be potentially relevant to other countries. Here we outline Chinas national myopia policy, discuss the related scientific evidence and conclude with specific recommendations for the way forward. […] Myopia control efforts have focused on children and adolescents because prevention is only possible in these age groups, progression largely occurs during this stage of life and poor vision from uncorrected myopia limits childrens educational performance. […] Following a declaration in 2018 by Chinas President Xi Jinping on how the high prevalence of myopia in schoolchildren affects their health and well-being, the central governments State Council released a comprehensive plan for the prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents. The plan describes key roles for the Ministry of Education and the National Health Commission, with support from finance and publicity departments. Essential goals, for which local governments are provided precise performance targets, include very cautious targets of reducing the myopia prevalence among schoolchildren by over 0.5% per year from 2018 to 2023, and to achieve a figure below 70.0% among high school students by 2030, through preventive interventions.

• #95 The Ophthalmologist | Shutting Down Short-Sightedness

  https://theophthalmologist.com/issues/2023/articles/jun/shutting-down-short-sightedness

  The European Network for Myopia Prevention and Control was founded to share the knowledge and experiences in this field, but also to collaborate in organizing conferences, education and trans-European scientific projects. […] The primary myopia control method in France is defocus glasses because the cost is generally acceptable, being approximately 100 higher than regular glasses, and is clearly easy to adapt. […] In Italy, outdoor activity is mainly promoted by pediatric ophthalmologists, pediatricians, and, in some parts of the country, by school teachers. […] Various treatments are used in Portugal, including low-dose atropine, novel myopia control contact lenses and glasses, and ortho-k. […] There are several limitations to our knowledge on myopia, as the underlying causal mechanisms are still not fully understood. Most importantly, scientific evidence, on the effect of treating myopia progression and the prevention of pathological myopia, is lacking. […] I believe that artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can help develop non-invasive diagnostics of myopia; for example, based on fundus pictures, that would not need cycloplegia and enable us to conduct massive screening projects.

• #96 Prevention of myopia, China

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7265928/

  A second opportunity for primary prevention of myopia lies in reducing the burden of schoolwork on Chinese children, particularly during the earliest educational years. […] With the high prevalence of childhood myopia, secondary and tertiary prevention focusing on slowing myopia progression is a government priority. Several approaches to slow the progression of childhood myopia once it has been diagnosed have recently been described. […] If applied nationwide and in a timely fashion, such interventions could significantly reduce the burden of high myopia and its consequent pathology. […] The current plan promotes specific interventions, including those with a strong scientific basis, but also elements based on popular beliefs, such as adopting specific postures while reading. […] Remembering that measures to limit the development of myopia and high myopia are unlikely to be completely successful is important, as China will still have to provide care for people affected by myopia. Thus, the need for increased investment in primary health care, including vision care, will grow. Covering childrens glasses under Chinas national medical insurance should be considered. […] These countries could learn from Chinas experience in blending proven myopia prevention measures, such as increased time outdoors and reduced schoolwork in the primary years, with an enhanced infrastructure to deliver high-quality refractive services throughout the country.

• #97 The Ophthalmologist | Shutting Down Short-Sightedness

  https://theophthalmologist.com/issues/2023/articles/jun/shutting-down-short-sightedness

  The European Network for Myopia Prevention and Control was founded to share the knowledge and experiences in this field, but also to collaborate in organizing conferences, education and trans-European scientific projects. […] The primary myopia control method in France is defocus glasses because the cost is generally acceptable, being approximately 100 higher than regular glasses, and is clearly easy to adapt. […] In Italy, outdoor activity is mainly promoted by pediatric ophthalmologists, pediatricians, and, in some parts of the country, by school teachers. […] Various treatments are used in Portugal, including low-dose atropine, novel myopia control contact lenses and glasses, and ortho-k. […] There are several limitations to our knowledge on myopia, as the underlying causal mechanisms are still not fully understood. Most importantly, scientific evidence, on the effect of treating myopia progression and the prevention of pathological myopia, is lacking. […] I believe that artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can help develop non-invasive diagnostics of myopia; for example, based on fundus pictures, that would not need cycloplegia and enable us to conduct massive screening projects.

• #98 The Ophthalmologist | Shutting Down Short-Sightedness

  https://theophthalmologist.com/issues/2023/articles/jun/shutting-down-short-sightedness

  The European Network for Myopia Prevention and Control was founded to share the knowledge and experiences in this field, but also to collaborate in organizing conferences, education and trans-European scientific projects. […] The primary myopia control method in France is defocus glasses because the cost is generally acceptable, being approximately 100 higher than regular glasses, and is clearly easy to adapt. […] In Italy, outdoor activity is mainly promoted by pediatric ophthalmologists, pediatricians, and, in some parts of the country, by school teachers. […] Various treatments are used in Portugal, including low-dose atropine, novel myopia control contact lenses and glasses, and ortho-k. […] There are several limitations to our knowledge on myopia, as the underlying causal mechanisms are still not fully understood. Most importantly, scientific evidence, on the effect of treating myopia progression and the prevention of pathological myopia, is lacking. […] I believe that artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can help develop non-invasive diagnostics of myopia; for example, based on fundus pictures, that would not need cycloplegia and enable us to conduct massive screening projects.

• #99 Myopia | Sight Research UK

  https://www.sightresearchuk.org/sight-issues/eye-conditions/myopia/

  Once patients become short-sighted, myopia cannot be reversed, so prevention is viewed as the best approach. […] Prevention is widely seen as the best approach to reduce the number of people losing their vision as a result of short-sightedness. […] Current research funded by Sight Research UK, Dr Denize Atan at the University of Bristol is investigating the association between insulin signalling and short-sightedness, with the potential for a new treatment option.

• #100 The Ophthalmologist | Shutting Down Short-Sightedness

  https://theophthalmologist.com/issues/2023/articles/jun/shutting-down-short-sightedness

  A 2016 systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of myopia projected that half of the worlds population will be myopic by 2050 a staggering five billion people. […] The major concern related to myopia is that up to 10 percent of children will develop high myopia, a serious risk factor for vision loss related with myopia, macular degeneration, and some serious eye disorders, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataract. […] Thus, increasing awareness of myopia prevention and controlling myopia progression strategies are becoming more important focuses in our routine ophthalmology practice across Europe. […] Fortunately, with increasing knowledge about myopia pathophysiology and risk factors, we have more approaches available to control myopia progression. […] The recent data on new eye-glasses, including DIMS and HAL, are cause for optimism given their considerable efficacy.

• #101 About Myopia (Near-sightedness)

  https://nova-sight.com/about-myopia-near-sightedness/

  To help fight this pandemic and to overcome some of the inherent shortcomings of the existing solutions, NovaSight is developing TrackSight™, a software as a service (SaaS) solution for myopia prevention, which creates real-time myopic blur on the screen according to the user’s momentary gaze position.

• #102 New clinical and public health perspectives on myopia prevention and control in China | Eye

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41433-023-02625-6

  The significant percentage of OK users with inadequately corrected VA may be due to the high annual myopia progression rates (-0.8D up to -1.2D) reported for children aged 6-12 years in China, requiring many corrections to be up-dated at least annually. […] As a result, prevention of the onset of myopia and control of its progression are a high priority. […] OK lenses and low-dose atropine were already available for progression control, and effective new approaches such as contact and spectacle lens that impose myopic defocus, and more recently red light therapy have since become available. […] In addition, clinical trials and school-based implementation, particularly in Taiwan, have shown that time outdoors for 2h per day markedly reduces incident myopia. […] However, because they address many of the same factors that are implicated causally in the epidemic of myopia, these changes set the scene for effective myopia prevention as well.

• #103 New clinical and public health perspectives on myopia prevention and control in China | Eye

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41433-023-02625-6

  With effective clinical referral for myopia correction and myopia control, control of progression seems feasible. […] If China succeeds in combining clinical interventions to control myopia progression with school-based public health interventions to control myopia onset, there will be important lessons for other countries in the region with a myopia epidemic.

• #104 Myopia in Children: Epidemiology, Genetics, and Emerging Therapies for Treatment and Prevention

  https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1446

  Pediatricians play an active role in myopia prevention. Pediatricians are particularly equipped to incorporate these epidemiological findings into patient care, highlighting the significance of lifestyle adjustments within a comprehensive preventative strategy for myopia. They can collaborate with families to create daily routines that emphasize outdoor activities and regulate screen usage in developmentally suitable manners. […] Preventing myopia in children is greatly enhanced by public health and behavioral strategies that target lifestyle variables associated with the beginning of myopia. Numerous studies, including those examined in the National Academies’ assessment, indicate a strong correlation between heightened outdoor activities and reduced myopia prevalence. Pediatricians are ideally situated to promote behavioral changes, including advocating for outdoor play, minimizing screen usage, and regulating near-work activities. Interventions encouraging a minimum of 2 h of outdoor activity daily have demonstrated a significant decrease in the onset and progression of myopia, offering a non-pharmacological strategy that coincides with the objectives of parents and pediatricians.

• #105 Myopia in Children: Epidemiology, Genetics, and Emerging Therapies for Treatment and Prevention

  https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1446

  Public health organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and ophthalmological associations, have acknowledged the diverse risk factors for myopia and have proposed preventive measures to mitigate high-risk behaviors. The WHO guidelines and research in East Asia recommend a minimum of 2 h of outdoor activity daily as a preventive strategy, indicating that children participating in such activities are 20–30% less likely to acquire myopia. Additionally, numerous countries have initiated programs to inform parents and children about the effects of screen time and near-work activities, advocating for restrictions on digital device usage, particularly among young children. Pediatricians are essential in public health campaigns, serving as educators and advocates for behavioral changes during routine consultations and community outreach efforts.

• #106 Can My Child’s Nearsightedness Be Cured? A Guide for Parents of Children with Myopia | MiSight® 1 day

  https://misight.com/blog/can-my-childs-nearsightedness-be-cured

  Again, theres no cure for myopia in children. But in addition to getting the right treatment for your childas early as possiblethere are lifestyle adjustments you and your child can work on for their eye needs to help slow the progression of their nearsightedness, like getting them outdoors as much as possible; spending less time on smartphones, tablets, computers (and screens in general); and encouraging your child to increase the distance between their eyes and smartphones, computers and reading materials. […] These lifestyle tips can keep your childs eyesight from getting worse.

• #107 Myopia: How to Slow Progression in Your Child

  https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/slow-progression-child-myopia

  Peripheral defocus contact lenses: Children 6 to 12 years old may benefit from this special type of multifocal contact lens. […] This helps slow down the myopia. […] Vision therapy: This is a program of exercises designed for your child. […] It can train the eyes to adjust focus better between close and distant objects, which can help slow the advance of nearsightedness. […] Research shows that kids who spend more than 90 minutes outside per day slow down the progression of myopia. […] Teach kids to use the 20-20-20 rule. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends following a simple rule to reduce eyestrain: Every 20 minutes, focus your eyes on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

• #108 Can My Child’s Nearsightedness Be Cured? A Guide for Parents of Children with Myopia | MiSight® 1 day

  https://misight.com/blog/can-my-childs-nearsightedness-be-cured

  Again, theres no cure for myopia in children. But in addition to getting the right treatment for your childas early as possiblethere are lifestyle adjustments you and your child can work on for their eye needs to help slow the progression of their nearsightedness, like getting them outdoors as much as possible; spending less time on smartphones, tablets, computers (and screens in general); and encouraging your child to increase the distance between their eyes and smartphones, computers and reading materials. […] These lifestyle tips can keep your childs eyesight from getting worse.

• #109 Curbing nearsightedness in children: Can outdoor time help? – Harvard Health

  https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/curbing-nearsightedness-in-children-can-outdoor-time-help-202212152868

  Research suggests regular outdoor time lowers risk for myopia, a vision problem on the rise worldwide. […] Studies also show, even more reliably, that spending time outdoors can decrease a child’s risk of developing myopia. […] Make sure your child spends time outdoors regularly every day, if possible. That’s the best way to be sure that they look at things far away. […] Try to limit the amount of time your child spends close to a screen. […] Have your child’s vision checked regularly. […] Call your pediatrician or child’s eye doctor if you notice signs of a possible vision problem, such as sitting close to the television or holding devices close to the face.

• #110 What Are Myopia (Nearsightedness) and Myopia Progression?

  https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/myopia/overview-of-nearsightedness/

  Myopia management involves all the aspects of eye care a person with myopia may need. It aims to correct blurred vision, control myopia progression and decrease the risk of complications from high myopia. Myopia management includes: […] Early myopia detection and intervention are key in slowing myopia progression. […] The earlier a child begins myopia control strategies, the better the impact. Slowing myopia progression is key in reducing the risk of sight-threatening complications in adulthood. […] Recent research shows that wearing specially designed lenses can slow myopia progression. There is evidence that these lenses can slow axial elongation of the eye. […] For children with progressive myopia, effective myopia control methods include: […] Research shows that spending at least 90 minutes a day outdoors reduces the risk of developing myopia. […] Myopia control strategies can be used one at a time or in combination. Your eye doctor can tell you which methods will have the greatest effect on myopia progression.

• #111 The Ultimate Guide to Myopia Prevention | Dr Jimmy Lim

  https://jleyespecialists.com/blog/myopia-prevention/

  Research has indicated a strong correlation between healthy lifestyle choices and a reduced risk of myopia development and progression in children. […] Encouraging a balanced diet that includes essential nutrients for eye health, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein, can significantly support optimal visual health and potentially mitigate myopia. […] By promoting a holistic approach that incorporates a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and sufficient sleep, parents and educators can contribute to reducing the risk of myopia in children. […] Hence, it is essential to emphasise the significance of these lifestyle choices alongside other preventive measures, such as limiting screen time and maintaining appropriate reading distances, for comprehensive myopia control and long-term eye health.

• #112 Epidemiology of myopia and prevention of myopia progression in children in East Asia: a review | HKMJ

  https://www.hkmj.org/abstracts/v24n6/602.htm

  Treatment should be individualised and based on the preferences of the patients family, after full discussion of the risks and benefits of each modality. […] There is an epidemic of myopia in East Asia, and local data suggest a high prevalence of myopia in Hong Kong children. […] Clinical trials have provided strong evidence regarding the efficacy of several interventions to control myopia progression in children. […] However, there are practical concerns, because some interventions (eg, concentrations of atropine 1%, as well as pirenzepine) are not currently available in Hong Kong. […] Moreover, some interventions (eg, orthokeratology and peripheral defocus contact lens) have potential vision-threatening adverse effects.

• #113 Advances in myopia prevention strategies for school-aged children: a comprehensive review

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10466414/

  To avoid the occurrence of severe myopia and its associated complications, as well as alleviate the financial impact caused by untreated or pathological myopia, it is necessary to implement appropriate measures. To decelerate myopia progression, multiple treatment options, including topical atropine, dual-focus contact lenses, multifocal soft contact lenses, overnight orthokeratology, and spectacle lenses, have been investigated. These approaches have exhibited a clinically meaningful reduction in advancing myopia. […] While numerous studies have explored various methods for preventing and managing myopia, there is limited research that provides a comprehensive comparison of the efficacy of different environmental and optical interventions in preventing myopia in school-aged children. This review presents a comprehensive overview of myopia prevention strategies, highlighting the importance of integrating various approaches for optimal results. The goal is to contribute to developing targeted and personalized strategies that effectively mitigate the impact of myopia and its associated complications.

• #114 Myopia: Why Nearsightedness is Becoming a Modern Epidemic | Diagnostic Eye Center

  https://www.diagnosticeyecenter.com/2024/06/25/nearsightedness-modern-epidemic/

  Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive eye condition where you have difficulty seeing distant objects but can see objects close to you. […] This condition is also becoming increasingly common, affecting individuals of all ages, particularly young people. […] To analyze the reason behind this epidemic, we first have to explore the specifics of myopia itself and the prevention tactics known for the condition. […] To prevent these severe conditions from rising, many Southeast Asian countries have created public health initiatives to address the extreme prevalence, as more than 80% of students have a myopia diagnosis. […] In Singapore and Taiwan, students receive atropine eye drops that prevent myopia progression. […] Many researchers encourage lifestyle changes to prevent the development and progression of myopia, particularly among young people.

• #115

  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/eyes/Pages/Myopia-Nearsightedness.aspx

  Myopia cannot be reversed or cured, but it can be treated. The goals of treatment are to improve your child’s vision and prevent it from getting worse. This is important for protecting their eye health in the future, even if they still need glasses or contact lenses. […] Researchers are studying ways to prevent myopia from worsening in children. These potential treatments include: […] A low dose of the same type of eye drops that are used to dilate the pupils during an eye exam may help slow down myopia in children between 5 and 18 years old. […] Spending time outdoors can also help with myopia management. By balancing screen time with outside time when possible, you may help limit your child’s nearsightedness and protect their vision as they grow.

• #116 The influence of the environment and lifestyle on myopia | Journal of Physiological Anthropology | Full Text

  https://jphysiolanthropol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40101-024-00354-7

  Improving the modifiable key environmental predictors like time spent outdoors and engagement in near work can prevent or slow the progression of myopia. […] The intricate connections between lifestyle and environmental factors often obscure research findings, making it challenging to disentangle their individual effects. […] These studies are crucial for gaining a more comprehensive understanding of how various environmental factors can be modified to prevent or slow the progression of myopia. […] The worldwide prevalence of myopia is on the rise for reasons that are still not well understood. […] A systematic review and meta-analysis of 145 studies worldwide on myopia prevalence predicted that by 2050, half of the world population (4,758 million people) will be myopic and ~10% of the world population (938 million people) will have high myopia.

• #117 Prevention of myopia, China

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7265928/

  A second opportunity for primary prevention of myopia lies in reducing the burden of schoolwork on Chinese children, particularly during the earliest educational years. […] With the high prevalence of childhood myopia, secondary and tertiary prevention focusing on slowing myopia progression is a government priority. Several approaches to slow the progression of childhood myopia once it has been diagnosed have recently been described. […] If applied nationwide and in a timely fashion, such interventions could significantly reduce the burden of high myopia and its consequent pathology. […] The current plan promotes specific interventions, including those with a strong scientific basis, but also elements based on popular beliefs, such as adopting specific postures while reading. […] Remembering that measures to limit the development of myopia and high myopia are unlikely to be completely successful is important, as China will still have to provide care for people affected by myopia. Thus, the need for increased investment in primary health care, including vision care, will grow. Covering childrens glasses under Chinas national medical insurance should be considered. […] These countries could learn from Chinas experience in blending proven myopia prevention measures, such as increased time outdoors and reduced schoolwork in the primary years, with an enhanced infrastructure to deliver high-quality refractive services throughout the country.

• #118

  http://www.nni.com.sg/news/patient-care/Don%E2%80%99t-be-short-sighted-about-myopia-in-children

  There is also evidence that specially designed contact lenses can slow down the progression of myopia, as well as a low dose of the medication atropine. […] Early intervention is key with myopia, as it can slow or even stop the progression of the condition. […] The SNEC Myopia Centre is collaborating with the eye-care community to detect and treat myopia, but parents must also play their part by seeking timely intervention.

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