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By 2050, it’s predicted that about half of world population (~4.759 billion people) would be myopia (Short-sightedness), according to the scientific journal Ophthalmology.

Research of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) found that outdoor sunlight exposure of 11 hours per week reduced both myopic shift and axial elongation, minimizing the risk of rapid myopia progression by 54%. Namely 1.5 hour of outdoor sunlight exposure per day is sufficiently protective against myopia.

Warm Reminder: Do not look directly at the sun. UV light can pass through the cornea into the retina, causing keratitis and cataracts.

Family Classroom: The Sign and Cause of Myopia

Symptom: People with myopia can see near objects clearly but find it difficult to see distant objects clearly. The higher the myopia degree, the more blurred the distant objects.

Cause: Myopia results from the elongation of eyeball. When looking at distant object, image is being focused in front of the retina instead of being focused exactly on the retina, therefore resulting in blurred images. The reasons behind eyeball elongation includes genetic and environmental factors, studies have shown that activities at close range such as reading, writing and using electronic screen also contribute to myopia.

Reference: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Department of Health, Nature, PMID 26875007, PMID 28063778