Our way of sedentary lifestyle has brought up many changes in how we interact with the world around us. We are often more engrossed in navigating through our screens than we are in appreciating the expansive blue sky or the natural beauty that surrounds us. For many people around the world, mornings aren’t ‘good’ (despite the cheery messages flooding WhatsApp) but rather blurry. Their typical daily routine starts with relying on their dependable pair of glasses, and if, by chance, they’re not nearby, achieving clear vision typically involves seeking external assistance. This is the realm of myopics, individuals grappling with myopia or nearsightedness.
What is Myopia?
Nearsightedness, also known as myopia in medical terms, refers to a vision condition where individuals can perceive nearby objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurry. This condition arises when the eyeball is excessively elongated or when the cornea, the eye’s transparent front surface, is excessively curved.
“Eyes have a ‘stop signal’ so that they grow proportionally with the head. The signal, however, can get interrupted by genetic and environmental factors. That leads to our eyeballs growing a bit too much, making them too big for the optics (lens and cornea). This mismatch between the eyeballs and optics leads to far-off objects looking out of focus,” Gregory Schwartz, an associate professor at the Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, explained while speaking to Reader’s Digest India.
How common is Myopia?
Myopia is prevalent, with over 40% of individuals in the U.S. estimated to be nearsighted. This figure is increasing rapidly, particularly among school-aged children, and eye specialists anticipate this trend to persist in the future. About one in four parents has a child who experiences some level of nearsightedness. Certain eye specialists suggest that excessive engagement in close-up activities like reading or using smartphones and computers may heighten the risk of myopia development in children.
The importance of natural light
We all know the importance of natural sunlight, it is the very source that keeps all the survival on this planet intact. Sunlight offers numerous benefits, serving as a powerful source of vitamins and playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of our eyes.
According to experts, exposure to natural light plays a crucial role in promoting healthy eye development. A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology in 2017 highlighted a connection between higher UVB exposure and a reduced incidence of myopia, particularly during adolescence and early adulthood.
Screen time needs to decrease
With technological advancements, access to mobile phones and laptops has become increasingly convenient, especially for children. Nowadays, when children become agitated or start crying, many modern parents rely on their devices to soothe the situation and keep their kids occupied. Gradually, these devices have become their primary source of entertainment.
“Both children and adults are spending less time outdoors. The primary source of entertainment for many individuals now revolves around digital screens, which are predominantly used indoors rather than outdoors. This shift in lifestyle preferences towards indoor activities has contributed to reduced outdoor time among the population,” says Dr Faizah Shahreer Ahmad, an ophthalmologist and fellow with Sightsavers India.
