Spending extra time exterior might help stop kids growing short-sightedness, a examine has discovered
New analysis from the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) has revealed a decline within the period of time kids spend outside, which might be impacting their eye well being.
The examine found that simply 76 additional minutes exterior a day can cut back the chance of myopia (short-sightedness) by 50%.
More than half of oldsters report their kids play exterior lower than they did once they had been younger, and over three quarters mentioned they want to spend extra time within the nice outside with their household.
However, they really feel unable to as a result of their youngsters choose to spend their time on digital gadgets or the mother and father do not feel they’ve sufficient time.
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The examine additionally discovered that almost 1 / 4 of oldsters had by no means taken their kids for an eye fixed take a look at.
Girls Aloud star, Kimberley Walsh, has first-hand expertise of myopia and has been working with GMAC to get youngsters exterior this summer season.
She mentioned: “Raising consciousness of myopia is so necessary to me as I’m short-sighted and am a mom of younger kids. I’m additionally aware that it is one thing that will have an effect on my kids, so I’m continually on the look-out for any indicators that they might have myopia.
“The holidays make juggling work and family life tough and it’s so easy for kids to spend all day glued to screens and digital devices. Whilst I am short-sighted, I didn’t realise that the risk of developing myopia is 3.5 times greater when kids spend 7 hours or more on screens and this goes up dramatically if one or more parents are short-sighted.
“That’s why I’m supporting the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition’s Sight Sanctuary marketing campaign and inspiring households to get exterior for not less than two hours a day and provides their eyes a break.”
Optometrist, Hamza Mussa, who is working with GMAC, said: “Myopia is one other time period for short-sightedness, and it’s on the rise in kids. It has turn into a worldwide well being subject, so common eye examinations (not only a imaginative and prescient screening) with an optometrist are necessary to determine any issues, particularly at an early age.
“It is an irreversible disease and can be a barrier to a child’s ability to do their best and fulfil their potential, so it is crucial that children have annual eye exams.”
Source: information.sky.com”