As the prevalence of myopia increases, it is crucial to educate people about its risks and teach them preventative measures. This website aims to give people the information and resources to combat myopia.
Learn What You Can Do!
Nearsightedness, or myopia, occurs when nearby objects appear clear but distant ones appear blurry. This occurs because the eyes become elongated, resembling a lemon. Light should focus directly on the retina, but with myopia, it falls in front of it, causing blurriness. Myopia is becoming more common, with projections suggesting nearly half the world's population will have it by 2050. Developing healthier habits can help prevent its progression.
With bad management, nearsightedness can lead to different eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, myopic macular degeneration and retinal detachment. These diseases only occur later in life, but will start forming at a younger age.
28% of the world's population suffered from myopia in 2010, which equals 1.95 billion people. 50% of the population are expected to be myopic by 2050, which would equal 4.76 billion people. 938 million people are predicted to suffer from high myopia (-6D or worse) by 2050, which puts them at more risk of serious eye conditions.
But how would we be able to stop this from happening?
After 20 minutes of looking at something close by, like reading, being on your phone, or working at a distance less than about 30 centimetres, give your eyes some rest by... →
Looking away into the distance for 20 seconds. Look outside through your window or at something at the other end of the room. This gives your eyes some rest after being strained from focusing toward something nearby. →
And let your kid be outside for at least 2 hours per day. The light emitted by the sun is far greater than humans can produce inside. This amount of light is great for eye growth 6-12 years old. →
Start using the 20-20-2 rule that has been explained previously.
Start small with the help of setting timers or alarms every 20 minutes as a reminder to give your eyes a break from screen time.
Start by implementing the 20-20-2 rule as a habit, once established this will be a part of your children’s daily routine.
Explain the 20-20-2 rule to your children to educate them about keeping their eye healthy and the consequences of myopia.
Motivate your children to play outside. Not only does this meet the daily 2 hours being outdoors, but it also contributes to the overall physical well-being.
Keep track of how much time your child spends in front of screens and set limits if necessary and encourage them to engage in non-screen activities.
Be creative in turning the 20 second break and 2 hours outdoor time fun. This could just be small like playing a little game of spotting or going on a picnic and paint with nature.
Designate areas in the classroom where students can go to focus their eyes on something far away, like a window with a view during their break.
Make classes more fun by holding it outdoors or incorporating outdoor activities whenever possible.
Ensure that your classroom is well-lit and that digital screens are positioned appropriately to reduce glare and prevent students from sitting too close to the screens.
Regularly seek feedback from students about the eye care practices in the classroom and be flexible to adjust towards their feedback.
Children follow things they observe, therefore, practising the 20-20-2 rule yourself will encourage your children to participate too.
