Worldwide, 1 in 3 children is now nearsighted. What’s behind the increase? – National

A new study warns that the eye health of children around the world may be declining.

Nearly one in three was nearsighted in 2023 and this is expected to increase over the next twenty years.

The study, published Tuesday in the British Journal of Ophthalmologyanalyzed the results of 276 studies involving more than 5.4 million children from 50 countries on six continents.

According to the figures, the number of people with myopia has increased from 24 percent in 1990 to almost 36 percent last year. But projections from the study’s researchers showed that number could reach nearly 40 percent by 2050.

While the researchers said the rise in myopia rates was gradual, the study said the increase was “notable” after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing to countries that introduced lockdowns that forced many children to learn online indoors .

It is said that there are concerns about a decline in outdoor activity and that an increase in screen time due to these “extended periods of staying indoors” may have had a potentially negative impact on eye health.

Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is a condition in which close objects are clearly visible, but distant objects are out of focus, according to the Canadian Association of Optometrists.

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The study notes that myopia typically begins in early childhood and “tends to worsen as individuals move from childhood to adolescence and ultimately into adulthood,” with younger children being more susceptible due to environmental factors.

The study also found that children in urban areas are at higher risk of myopia, with girls more likely than boys to develop the disease.

Depending on the country, the study found that estimated prevalence varied between continents, with Asia being the highest at around 35 percent, and Latin America and the Caribbean at the other end at almost four percent.

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Myopia in Children and the Warning Signs Every Parent Should Know

In terms of countries with available data, the study found that myopia rates were highest in Japan and lowest in Paraguay. Researchers further note that Japan, the Republic of Korea and Russia top the list of children who are nearsighted at 86 percent, 74 percent and 46 percent respectively.

Canada was at about 17 percent, according to the data.

However, there are things people can do to prevent nearsightedness.

Researchers emphasized the need for young people to “develop the habit of taking eye-protective measures regularly.”

This includes increasing physical activity and reducing time spent watching TV, playing video games and being online, adding that more action needs to be taken by governments.

“In view of the increasing prevalence of myopia in school-age children, government health departments should implement policies aimed at reducing the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring on young students,” they wrote, adding adding that regular physical examinations should be performed. implemented and early detection and treatment promoted.

According to the Canadian Association of OptometristsIf your child is diagnosed, glasses or contact lenses are the most common form of vision correction, although the prescription may change or remain the same as the glasses become larger.

As a child grows, some people with nearsightedness may consider surgery to reduce or correct nearsightedness, ranging from LASIK to artificial lens implants, although these are typically not accessible until you are 18 years of age or older.

For those considering such operations, the Government of Alberta advises that if your vision does not bother you and you have no driving or safety concerns, treatment is not necessary.

“If glasses or contact lenses are inconvenient for your work or lifestyle, surgery may be a good choice,” the government writes on its health information website. “But myopia is not a disease, and a nearsighted eye is otherwise normal and healthy.”

The government adds that people should weigh the desire to avoid wearing glasses against the risk and cost of surgery, noting that there is also a possibility that you may still need to wear glasses or contact lenses after the procedure.

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