It is interesting that our modern society spends literally hours indoors. Whether it be classwork at school, adults at work, or the entertainment of tv and video games, we are an "indoor society". The following studies have found, what most of us know already, if we think about it logically. They have found that their positive outcomes when children were subjected to testing their eyesight in relationship to their outdoor activity.
Researchers in Australia have found an association between high levels of outdoor activity and low rates of short-sightedness, or myopia, in children.
The prevalence of childhood myopia has increased dramatically in recent decades. With rates of 80 percent in some East Asian populations, the search is on for possible causes.
"We know that there are genetic associations with myopia," New Scientist quoted Kathryn Rose of the University of Sydney in Australia, as saying.
"But the rapid changes in myopia prevalence are not consistent with a simple genetic determination, since gene pools do not change sufficiently fast," Rose added.
Suspecting that environmental factors might also be involved, Rose and colleagues set about investigating the effect that time spent outdoors has on the prevalence of myopia.
In the study, 2367 12-year-old Australian schoolchildren underwent eye examinations and completed questionnaires about their daily activities. What they found is, the lowest rates of myopia were associated with the highest rates of outdoor activity, irrespective of how much near work, such as reading, the children did.
The children with the worst eyesight did lots of near work and spent very little time outside. Interestingly, the study found no benefit from playing sports indoors.
In 12-year-old students myopia was most strongly associated with high levels of near work and low levels of outdoor activity. The findings suggest that it is the time spent outdoors rather than engagement in sports that is critical; the association between increased outdoor hours and lower myopia was found even if an outdoor sport was not included, while time spent on indoor sports, such as playing basketball in a gym, had no effect.
The researchers recommend further study to prove conclusively whether certain levels of time spent outdoors can control myopia and to define the mechanisms involved. The higher exposure to intense outdoor light may explain the lower prevalence of myopia in children in Australia, compared with ethnically matched peers in other countries, Dr. Rose says. She adds that "this protective effect suggests that a public health measure aimed at preventing development of myopia could be based on increasing the engagement of children in outdoor activity," including family and school activities and sports.
Sources:
http://www.medindia.net/news/Increased-Outdoor-Activity-Lessens-Myopia-Risk-in-Kids-40117-1.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18294691
http://bjo.bmj.com/content/93/8/997.full?utm_content=2662258362&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=187015&key&utm_source=Emailvision&siteid=bmjjournals%3Fsrc%3DBJO_HC_4&ijkey=VqCWhiZi7cfaQ
The prevalence of childhood myopia has increased dramatically in recent decades. With rates of 80 percent in some East Asian populations, the search is on for possible causes.
"We know that there are genetic associations with myopia," New Scientist quoted Kathryn Rose of the University of Sydney in Australia, as saying.
"But the rapid changes in myopia prevalence are not consistent with a simple genetic determination, since gene pools do not change sufficiently fast," Rose added.
Suspecting that environmental factors might also be involved, Rose and colleagues set about investigating the effect that time spent outdoors has on the prevalence of myopia.
In the study, 2367 12-year-old Australian schoolchildren underwent eye examinations and completed questionnaires about their daily activities. What they found is, the lowest rates of myopia were associated with the highest rates of outdoor activity, irrespective of how much near work, such as reading, the children did.
The children with the worst eyesight did lots of near work and spent very little time outside. Interestingly, the study found no benefit from playing sports indoors.
In 12-year-old students myopia was most strongly associated with high levels of near work and low levels of outdoor activity. The findings suggest that it is the time spent outdoors rather than engagement in sports that is critical; the association between increased outdoor hours and lower myopia was found even if an outdoor sport was not included, while time spent on indoor sports, such as playing basketball in a gym, had no effect.
The researchers recommend further study to prove conclusively whether certain levels of time spent outdoors can control myopia and to define the mechanisms involved. The higher exposure to intense outdoor light may explain the lower prevalence of myopia in children in Australia, compared with ethnically matched peers in other countries, Dr. Rose says. She adds that "this protective effect suggests that a public health measure aimed at preventing development of myopia could be based on increasing the engagement of children in outdoor activity," including family and school activities and sports.
Sources:
http://www.medindia.net/news/Increased-Outdoor-Activity-Lessens-Myopia-Risk-in-Kids-40117-1.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18294691
http://bjo.bmj.com/content/93/8/997.full?utm_content=2662258362&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=187015&key&utm_source=Emailvision&siteid=bmjjournals%3Fsrc%3DBJO_HC_4&ijkey=VqCWhiZi7cfaQ
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