More time in the open air and greater caution when using smartphones, tablets and other digital devices. These are the indications of the experts to protect children’s eyesight. A clinical trial – CLEERE – conducted some time ago on 1200 children aged between 6 and 14 years has shown that although genetic factors play an important role, children who spend a lot of time outdoors are less likely to to meet nearsightedness with respect to the most housewives.
One of the hypotheses is that natural light favors the release of dopamine, which would prevent the eyeball from developing that characteristic elongated shape characteristic of myopia.
“As children used to be told not to be too close to television, today they must be advised to keep a certain distance from smartphones and tablets , since getting too close the eye activates an automatic focus that seems to favor evolution of myopia in predisposed subjects “, explains Matteo Piovella, President of the Italian Ophthalmological Society (SOI).
“Taking frequent breaks when using a PC or tablet or limiting the use of electronic devices in children to a maximum of 2-3 hours a day are recommendations as simple as effective, yet hardly respected,” explains Matteo Piovella.
Myopia, according to international data, is increasing in the world, with maximum peaks of incidence in the Far East. Following this trend by 2050, the terrestrial population could be made up of 50% myopic.
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