3 Reasons Kids With Myopia Need to Spend More Time Outside
Most parents are aware of the many benefits associated with children taking part in outdoor activities. The obvious benefits of fresh air and physical exercise aren’t the only perks for kids who play outdoors. Recent research shows that increased “sun time” can actually slow down the progression of myopia (often referred to as nearsightedness), or even postpone its onset!
But First, What Is Myopia and Why Is It Harmful?
Myopia is an eye disease that causes the eye to elongate more than it should, resulting in blurry distance vision. It’s caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, two of which are not spending enough time outdoors and doing excessive near work like device use.
Many parents aren’t aware that childhood myopia significantly increases the risk of developing serious eye diseases and conditions like glaucoma, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration later in life. It’s been shown that higher myopia is associated with a greater risk of eye disease.
That’s why it’s important to stop myopia in its tracks with myopia management.
3 Reasons Why Outdoor Play Benefits Your Child’s Eyes
Whether your child is currently nearsighted or not, spending time outdoors in the sunshine can help delay the onset of myopia or slow its progression.
Genetics
A child is more likely to be myopic if one of their parents is nearsighted or myopic as well. If both parents are myopic, those chances increase even greater. Be sure to get your child’s vision checked if you or your spouse are myopic.
1) The Brightness of the Sun
The sun’s visible light is significantly brighter than the lighting in almost any indoor setting, which may play a major role in controlling myopia.
Studies have shown that when sunlight comes in contact with the retina, it causes the release of dopamine into the eye. This may prevent the eye from elongating. Preventing the eye from growing too long is the main goal of myopia management.
What is certain: children who spend at least 2-3 hours playing outdoors in the sunshine progress less rapidly than children who spend almost all their time indoors.
2) Long-Distance Focusing
It is well established that prolonged near activities like reading and screen time contribute to myopia onset and progression. It’s no surprise that studies now show COVID-19 confinement may have caused higher rates of myopia in children as well.
Spending time outdoors, on the other hand, encourages your child to focus on distant objects like trees, basketball hoops, a ball flying through the air— anything that’s more than an arm’s length away.
3) Vitamin D
This smooth muscle helps focus light on the retina, and may also help maintain the proper eye shape and length between the lens and the retina, which can become distorted as a child’s eyes grow with every passing year.
Moreover, the sun’s invisible UVB light triggers Vitamin D production. Some studies have found that nearsighted individuals have lower levels of Vitamin D than those with normal vision. However, more research is needed to solidify this claim, as only small-scale studies have been performed.
The recommended time for daily outdoor play is at least 2 hours for children over the age of 6. Be sure to send your child outside with a water bottle, sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
If Your Child Has Myopia, We Can Help!
At Treehouse Eyes, our goal is to battle childhood myopia and preserve children’s eye health for the long term. We encourage parents to learn more about myopia and check out real stories from satisfied parents and children sharing their experiences with our professional doctors, staff, and myopia treatment protocols at Treehouse Eyes.
Prevent serious, sight-robbing eye diseases by scheduling your child’s myopia consultation today. Contact your local Treehouse Eyes provider today and see your child’s quality of life improve before your eyes!
Having good eyesight helps us out in a multitude of ways. It keeps us safe as we go about our daily life, and it ensures that we can fully participate in all activities that we engage in. As one of our five senses, it’s important to maintain a healthy sense of sight, and good vision is key to your child enjoying a happy, healthy, and meaningful childhood. At Treehouse Eyes, we specialize in non-invasive myopia care and are dedicated to working through treatment programs with you and your child that suit your child’s lifestyle needs. Are you searching for an effective treatment method for your child’s myopia? Read on to find out more about our non-invasive myopia care in Ohio.
Overnight Contact Lenses in Ohio
With overnight contact lenses, all your child has to do is pop them in at night and remove them the next day when they get up. They can then enjoy clear vision throughout the day without needing to use contact lenses. Overnight contact lenses are recommended for active children who do not have the inclination, time, or patience to maintain daytime contact lenses. If you do not think that your child is up to using daytime contact lenses just yet, you can opt for overnight contact lenses first to get them used to contact lenses.
Daytime Soft Contact Lenses in Missouri
For older children who have demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility, daytime soft contact lenses are typically the best choice. If your child has shown that they are able to maintain high levels of hygiene throughout the day and are able to take care of themselves and their possessions, you can start with daytime soft contact lenses.
Choose Treehouse Eyes for Myopia Care for Kids
Let our specialists at Treehouse Eyes help your child to achieve better vision with our non-invasive treatment methods such as personalized contact lenses and prescription eye drops. Our specialists will provide comprehensive assessments and identify the best treatment plan for your child when it comes to their eye care routine. Thanks to our treatment methods that are non-invasive, you can rest assured that the journey for your child to gain improved eyesight will be effective, comfortable, and time-efficient! If you are thinking of getting prescription eye drop, read about our prescription eye drop disclaimer here.
Looking for more information about our myopia care and treatments for kids in Ohio? To find your nearest Treehouse provider or schedule a consultation, simply click here.