A recent PolyU School of Optometry (SO) study revealed myopia may give parents cause for concern.
Professor Carly Lam, Head of SO, said,“school children are now having more homework and need to read or do assignments with short reading distance requirements, if compounded by poor illumination, students will be more likely to have higher degree of myopia. On top of this, the popularity of electronic digital products, such as mobile phones and handheld game consoles, which are used excessively by these young and trendy subjects, will further affect their quality of vision. Recent research also suggested that school children with more outdoor activities will be less prone to the onset of myopia and less increase in degree of myopia. However, Hong Kong students are less exposed to outdoor activities and this may be a cause of increasing myopia onset... The American Optometric Association has a 20/20/20 eye care rule, suggesting that people should look at far away objects 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds after 20 minutes of work for eye relaxation.”
According to the American Optometric Association Myopia is nearsightedness: close objects are seen clearly while farther objects appear blurry. "Generally, nearsightedness first occurs in school-age children. Because the eye continues to grow during childhood, it typically progresses until about age 20.... A common sign of nearsightedness is difficulty with the clarity of distant objects like a movie or TV screen or the chalkboard in school."
Nearsightedness is most commonly caused by heredity and visual stress. It may also be a result of health complications.
When is the last time your child had an eye check-up?
Professor Carly Lam, Head of SO, said,“school children are now having more homework and need to read or do assignments with short reading distance requirements, if compounded by poor illumination, students will be more likely to have higher degree of myopia. On top of this, the popularity of electronic digital products, such as mobile phones and handheld game consoles, which are used excessively by these young and trendy subjects, will further affect their quality of vision. Recent research also suggested that school children with more outdoor activities will be less prone to the onset of myopia and less increase in degree of myopia. However, Hong Kong students are less exposed to outdoor activities and this may be a cause of increasing myopia onset... The American Optometric Association has a 20/20/20 eye care rule, suggesting that people should look at far away objects 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds after 20 minutes of work for eye relaxation.”
According to the American Optometric Association Myopia is nearsightedness: close objects are seen clearly while farther objects appear blurry. "Generally, nearsightedness first occurs in school-age children. Because the eye continues to grow during childhood, it typically progresses until about age 20.... A common sign of nearsightedness is difficulty with the clarity of distant objects like a movie or TV screen or the chalkboard in school."
Nearsightedness is most commonly caused by heredity and visual stress. It may also be a result of health complications.
When is the last time your child had an eye check-up?