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In recent years, I have heard many teachers commenting on the rising number of preschoolers wearing glasses.  One theory expressed is that with children spending so much time indoors in front of screens, they are not giving their eyes enough long-distance viewing exercise.  Now a study comes out supporting the impact of outdoor time on vision:

"Children who spend more time outdoors during the day may have a reduced rate of nearsightedness, also known as myopia," according to an American Medical Association study reported in Science World Report.

"In this recent study, researchers focused on the vision condition that has become rather widespread in some young adults living in urban parts of East and Southeast Asia.  In fact, close to 80 to 90 percent of high school graduates are reportedly nearsighted.  In this study, researchers specifically focused on six schools with children who were the average [age] of 7 at the start of the study.  The participants attended one additional 40-minute class of outdoor activities during each school day for three years and parents of the children were also encouraged to engage their children in outdoor activities following school, even on weekends and holidays.  However, the other participants continued on with their usual activities....

"Findings revealed that the children who spent more time outside reduced their risk of nearsightedness."

Contributed by Chris Kierwa

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