A topic that deserves more attention - A news article to read by Charlotte Wong

Charlotte S.W. Wong June 4th, 2021

For most of the school year, students in Toronto, Canada have been limited to the confines of their homes. In their daily routines are activities such as going online to go to school and to do homework, playing video games, surfing the Web, or socializing with friends in virtual meetings.

In fact, a parent at the local school can’t even tell me how much time her 14-year old teenage daughter is spending online.

“It is a lot. She’s online many hours each day, and I’m worried not only about her mental health, [but] also her vision.”

The parent's daughter has always been mildly shortsighted (-1.50DS), but when her mother noticed her starting to squint unconsciously, they were shocked when it was revealed to them that her eyesight had severely deteriorated. Her prescription had more than doubled within just eight months and she needed much stronger prescription eyeglasses (-4.00DS). Both of them felt very sad.

They are not alone. I recently interviewed two renowned optometrists and specialists in myopia control and orthokeratology. They too have seen a boom in the number of children and teenagers coming to see them with developing or worsening nearsightedness and dry, itchy eyes.

WHY THIS HAPPENS

The doctors attribute these symptoms to children being indoors and close to the screen for long periods of time, which has been greatly exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Spending time outdoors prevents you from becoming shortsighted. Staying indoors with prolonged near work eliminates this protection, and the eyes are more at risk of becoming more myopic.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO

So how do we protect our eyes from becoming nearsighted? The doctors recommended taking frequent breaks by implementing the 20-20-20 rule.

“For every 20 minutes of computer work, you take a break for 20 seconds, looking at something 20 feet [away]. It is best if this becomes a habit.”

They also suggested going out to play for at least 90 minutes a day when the sun is bright. Vitamin D absorbed from sunlight is vital in maintaining good eye health. The Canadian Association of Optometrists added that children should always be mindful of wearing sunglasses to protect their eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays while they are outdoors.

The doctors also emphasized the importance of good eye care.

“It is essential to take care of your eyes at a young age. This prevents long-term eye problems including retinal detachment [and] glaucoma”

The parent's daughter now tries to minimize screen time as much as possible and takes regular breaks away from any near work.

“I think everyone should pay more attention to their eyesight since it is very precious to us all. Don’t be afraid to tell your parents if you can’t see clearly, and remember to give your eyes many breaks.”

]]>