Nearsightedness is climbing across the globe, and it is affecting our young ones.
Nearly 36 percent of children worldwide are nearsighted, and the numbers are telling. According to the BBC, myopia (or nearsightedness) is a spreading problem.
Researchers point to COVID lockdowns and other factors as having a negative effect on eyesight as more kids spent time on screens and less time outdoors.
New Orleans ophthalmologist Dr. Monica Monica suggests the “20/20 Rule” for maintaining your eyesight whether young or old.
“Take twenty second breaks every twenty minutes to focus on something twenty feet away, “ Dr. Monica explains.
The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, looked at research involving more than five million children and teenagers from 50 countries across all six continents. It found that 15 percent of children in the U.S. suffered from the condition.
The numbers within the study reveal that short-sightedness has tripled between 1990 and 2023, rising to 36 percent in that time.
As screens become more of an inevitability in our working lives, it can be tough to remember to disconnect for our own good.
While it may be surprising to hear, Dr. Monica says reading a book on a page for extended periods is not much better for your vision than reading a tablet or a computer screen. While the prevailing myth is that the glow of the screen alone will ruin your vision, she says proximity is key.
“Any sort of near-term task you do for a long time, whether it be on a screen or in a book, you need to take into account the 20/20/20 rule as well,” Dr. Monica warns.