Two of our grandchildren wear glasses. We have noticed that many young children their ages also wear glasses. We wondered about the rise and now it seems that it is an epidemic of near-sightedness around the world among the young!
This Grandma, of course, first thought that it might be electronics, but it is not as simple as that.
In the Wall Street Journal, April 20, 2015, in “The Puzzling Rise in Nearsighted Children, by Shirley Wang, she says, “to battle an explosion of myopia, eye researchers try more outdoor time, medication, even a giant, translucent cube.”
“In the U.S., the rate of nearsightedness in people 12 to 54 years old increased by nearly two-thirds between studies nearly three decades apart ending in 2004, to an estimated 41.6%, according to a National Eye Institute study.”
“In several Asian countries, myopia rates in young people are far higher. A full 80% of 4,798 Beijing teenagers tested as nearsighted in a study published in the journal PLOS One in March. Similar numbers plague teens in Singapore and Taiwan. In one 2012 survey in Seoul, nearly all of the 24,000 teenage males surveyed were nearsighted.”
Now the why, according to Ms. Wang:
“Wei Wang, a professor of public health at Edith Cowan University near Perth, Australia, and one of the authors on the recent Beijing study, says genes combine with one’s behavior and environment to cause myopia. However, the fast increase must be due to environmental influences, since genes don’t change that quickly, he says.”
The World Health Organization is studying this serious issue and will release recommendations as soon as this summer. “The greatest health concern is the increase in severe myopia, which increases the risk of serious eye problems like retinal detachment, glaucoma and macular degeneration, experts say.”
Although experts will always seem to disagree, here is more detail about the recommendations thus far, according to Ms. Wang:
1. Have the children spend more time outside. “The longer they’re outside, the less likely they are to become nearsighted , according to more than a dozen studies in various countries world-wide. . . .one preliminary study of 2,000 children under review for publication showed a 23% reduction in myopia in the group of Chinese children who spent an additional 40 minutes more outside each day.”
“Spending time outdoors is a low-risk solution, so the strategy can be applied broadly to children, says Karla Zadnik, dean of the Ohio State University College of Optometry. “Because more light is almost like fluoride in the water, it’s being applied to children without regard for their individual risk of myopia,” Dr. Zadnik, who has been studying myopia for 25 years, wrote in an email.”
Some studies do not show a difference with time outside. “Some eye experts say that other factors, like extensive time spent doing what’s called near work, like homework and reading, also likely contribute to the growth in nearsightedness.”
2. Taking a drug called atropine.
“Atropine, a drug used for decades to dilate the pupils, appears to slow the progression of myopia once it has started, according to several randomized, controlled trials. But used daily at the typical concentration of 1%, there are side effects, most notably sensitivity to light, as well as difficulty focusing on up-close images.”
“In recent years, studies in Singapore and Taiwan found that a lower dose of atropine reduces myopia progression by 50% to 60% in children without those side effects, says Donald Tan, professor of ophthalmology at the Singapore National Eye Centre. He has spearheaded many of the studies. Large-scale trials on low-dose atropine are expected to start soon in Japan and in Europe, he says.”
“Researchers are unsure how long children should use the eye drops for maximum effect. So far, the longest study has followed children for five years. In Singapore, children typically receive drops for three to six months at the first sign they’re becoming nearsighted. If their myopia continues to progress, they typically continue the drops for up to a year, Dr. Tan says.”
“Other doctors say that because the side effects are minimal, children should continue using low-dose atropine drops until major eye growth is over, usually around the time of puberty. Dr. Tan says that exposure to the drops should be limited, as with any medication, to as short a period as possible.”
3. A bright light classroom made of translucent plastic walls.
“Dr. Morgan’s theory, which is supported by some animal research, is that light in the eye hits a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which releases chemicals that prevent the growth of the eye that can lead to myopia. Dr. Morgan, Dr. Congdon and a team from Sun Yat-sen are now testing, as reported recently in the science magazine Nature, a so-called bright-light classroom made of translucent plastic walls in Yangjiang to see if the children can focus and sit comfortably in the classroom. So far it appears the answer is yes.”
So much of this research is being done in Asia. I wonder if they have the kind of lighting we can buy that mimics sunlight and whether that can help, especially during winter months, now being used for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
This Grandma cannot imagine that having such lamps in the house can hurt. Check these out:
However, the first step is recognizing how common near-sightedness is in young children and taking the children to an eye doctor for an examination. Think about recommending this to the parents of your grandchildren or just forward the article to them for their information.
Joy,
Mema
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