A study commissioned by the International Agency has shown that a quarter of the European population reported as being short-sighted, particularly among young people. Various experts have stated that the solution lies in exposure to natural light.
As there is no epidemiological data on myopia in children in Belgium, paediatric ophthalmologists in our country have to rely on statistics such as the ones reported by VRT NWS from our neighbours.
Experts are concerned that increased time in front of computers, tablets and smartphones is making the problem worse among young people, with sports doctors calling on parents to ensure their children spend more time playing outside than sitting in front of screens.
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This lifestyle of being hooked on technology starts at a young age in many cases and this increases the risk of myopia in their teenage years. The situation has worsened in recent years, especially during the pandemic when consecutive lockdowns led to many young people using screens a lot more for schooling, social interaction and entertainment.
This is why experts are now calling for parents to be more vigilant, especially with young children, when it comes to screen time.
Benefits of being outside
Moreover, they called for children to partake in outdoor activities outdoors, where they can be exposed to more natural light.
Spending just three hours a day outside soaking up natural light can also make a huge difference to one's vision. This is due to natural light stimulating the release of dopamine, a chemical located in the eye that controls normal growth and development of the eyeball.
Being exposed to the right amount of natural light is therefore very important to young children whose eyes are still in the developmental stage and more susceptible to damage.
Experts, therefore, advocate less time being exposed to artificial light – especially the flickering lights of tablets and phones, which can cause eye strain and other problems, and more time in the great outdoors. Even if it is grey and overcast, there will be enough natural light to be beneficial to sight.
