Playing outdoors helps kids' eyesight
A new study review by researchers at the University of Cambridge have found that spending more time playing outdoors improves children’s vision.
Nearsightedness, medically known as myopia, is the most common cause of poor eyesight, especially in younger adults. It refers to being able to see well at close range, but not at a distance.
According to a review of previous studies, kids spending more time outdoors are less likely to suffer from nearsightedness, a review of previous research has found.
Led by Dr. Anthony Khawaja, researchers looked at eight studies exploring the relationship between outdoor time and myopia in more than 10,000 children.
They found that children with nearsightedness spent an average of 3.7 fewer hours per week outdoors than kids with normal eyesight or those who had farsightedness or hyperopia (having trouble with focusing on things close up).
The chance of developing nearsightedness in children also decreased by two percent for each additional hour they spent outdoors per week, say the results presented at the 115th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Scientists suggested that nearsightedness could possibly be caused by lack of UV radiation or spending less time looking into the distance or not enough physical activity.
”Increasing children’s outdoor time could be a simple and cost-effective measure with important benefits for their vision, ”said the lead author.
More research is needed to give an exact recommendation of how much outdoor time might be helpful in improving kids' eyesight, Khawaja added.
Source: presstv.ir
