Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a condition in which close objects appear clear, but distant objects appear blurry. The prevalence of nearsightedness in children and adolescents has increased significantly over the past 30 years, from 24% in 1990 to nearly 36% in 2023, according to a paper published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology on Tuesday.
Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China, came to this conclusion after analyzing the results of 276 studies involving more than 5.4 million children and adolescents in 50 countries on six continents.
Myopia is expected to continue to rise among children and adolescents around the world. Photo: Getty Images
Although myopia rates have been rising for years, the researchers noted significant increases after the Covid-19 pandemic. They also noted that rates vary across regions. Myopia has become a major public health problem, with rapid increases in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and China, according to the paper. Children in East Asia have the highest rates of myopia, at 35%, nearly double that of white children.
This may be because East Asian children typically start school at age 2 or 3, earlier than children in other regions. Japan leads the list with 86% of children suffering from myopia, followed by South Korea at 74%.
Children living in urban areas have higher rates of myopia than children living in rural areas. At the same time, the rate is slightly higher in girls than in boys. The researchers emphasize that young children are more susceptible to environmental factors than adults, and this is especially important for preschoolers, whose vision is still in a rapid and sensitive stage of development.
In the future, researchers predict that the rate of myopia will continue to increase in children and adolescents, reaching an estimated 36.6% in 2040 and 39.8% in 2050.
However, there are many steps parents can take to help protect their children's eyesight. Researchers recommend that children develop a habit of practicing regular eye protection.
1. Increase physical activity: Encourage children to participate in outdoor activities and sports instead of spending too much time on things like watching TV, playing video games and surfing the internet.
2. Reduce academic pressure: Researchers recommend that officials and parents reduce homework and extra classes, and encourage regular eye exams to detect and treat vision problems early.
3. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: According to Dr. Benjamin Botsford, an ophthalmologist at UMass Chan School of Medicine, parents should teach their children to follow the “20-20-20” rule, which means taking a 20-second break after every 20 minutes of using electronic devices, and looking at something about 20 feet away. This helps relax the eyes and reduces the risk of eye strain and dry eyes.
4. Reduce close reading: Limiting close reading and reducing the time spent using electronic devices will help slow down the progression of myopia in children.
5. Participate in outdoor activities: Letting children play and do outdoor activities will have a positive impact on their eyesight.
These measures not only help reduce the risk of myopia but also improve the child's overall health.
Ha Trang (according to CNN)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/1-3-so-tre-em-tren-toan-the-gioi-bi-can-thi-post314127.html
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