The Surprising Cause Of Myopia In Children

Recent data reveal that myopia in children has become almost a pandemic, the surprising cause of the high cases of this disease is found where we least expected it. Apparently myopia could be caused by the lack of an outdoor life.

According to studies conducted by Kings College London, more than half of children in Europe suffer from myopia. The numbers rise in the case of South Korean and Chinese children, among whom the figure exceeds 90%. In relation to the European population in general, it is estimated that a quarter suffers from this disease, with people between the ages of 25 and 29 being the most affected.

Experts have noted an increase in myopia cases in the last sixty years, rising to impressive levels. While some six decades ago this disease affected 20% of the population in places with the highest incidence, today we can speak of an alarming 96% in South Korea, until now the most affected region.

How to find the cause of myopia in children?

As we have already seen, the number of cases of this disease has alarmed specialists, for this reason different studies have been carried out that indicate possible causes. In the experience of the optical sector, genes can predispose children to myopia ; However, this does not explain the most recent explosion of cases, so the studies looked at other possible causes.

To explain that at least 25 million Spaniards may be suffering from myopia today, we would have to talk about a genetic change that is not viable in such a short time. Therefore, new research focused on locating a probable cause in these cases, which by surprise ended up being a very common external factor in urban children: the lack of contact with the open air and therefore little or no exposure to the sunlight.

According to the arguments of the organization of Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Vision Sciences, more than 50% of the world population could be myopic within about 35 years. In this sense, according to the cause revealed, it is children who live in urban environments who are most at risk.

It is believed that the human eye has had to adapt to artificial light with great effort for years, both daylight and nightlight have been replaced by electric lighting. This time spent indoors has left us without the opportunity to regulate our vision as natural daylight passes into the darkness of night.

According to studies, the lack of exposure to natural light has affected our visual health for many years, but in recent times this deficiency has increased. Our children have  less and less contact with the outside and therefore, their retinas are no longer stimulated by the release of dopamine.

The lack of stimulation in the retina leads to excessive elongation in childhood, this ultimately causes myopia. The Australian National University was able to find that an artificially lit environment does not reach the minimum lux required to stimulate the retina, which is at least 10,000 and that they are left with less than 500 lux.

 Can myopia be prevented?

Researchers have carried out studies to verify that natural light needs are covered as a measure of protection and prevention of myopia, which is why they suggest that children and adolescents should spend at least three hours a day outside. However, to prevent the disease, Taiwanese scientists study that exposure reaches about 80 minutes a day.

The study revealed a decrease in the number of myopia cases when 80-minute sun exposure became the norm. In this sense, we could consider that it is an effective prevention mechanism, which also protects the child’s vision when they are carrying out other activities that could affect them, such as watching television or being in front of the screen of other electronic devices.