Clear vision up close and blurry at a distance. Myopia remains the most common visual disorder. And its prevalence is only increasing among younger people.
Researchers from Sun-Yat-sen University in China explain that the global prevalence of myopia cases in children and adolescents increased from 24% between 1990 and 2000 to 36% in 2020-2023, or approximately 1 child or adolescent in 3.
For these scientists, the number of young people affected could reach 740 million cases worldwide by 2050.
Different reasons
Several factors seem to influence this upward trend, such as gender (girls are more affected than boys) or urbanization (urban areas are more affected than rural areas).
Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic could have played a role in the sharp increase observed after 2020, the researchers suggest. “ New evidence suggests potential association between pandemic and accelerated vision deterioration among young adults », they write.
Parents not informed enough
The good news behind this observation is that myopia can be slowed down and corrected. Two conditions for this: identify it early and implement corrective measures while changing some bad habits.
We still need to spot the evocative signs. Because according to the results of a study carried out by Ipsos on behalf of the Essilor company, “ 35% of French parents do not know the correct definition of myopia and 63% have never heard of solutions to slow its progression. »
So how to recognize myopia? Several symptoms are suggestive:
- your child squints in front of the television;
- he looks very closely at the objects he holds in his hand;
- in class, he needs to stand in the front row to see what is written on the board;
- he often has a headache at the end of the day.
Furthermore, nowadays, children tend to become myopic younger than before, due to our environment and our lifestyles: lack of exposure to natural light, increase in indoor activities and near vision. very much in demand. Simple actions can help prevent myopia:
- Limit screen use
Screens can promote the appearance of so-called “behavioral” myopia. It is crucial to limit the time spent in front of smartphones, tablets and computers, especially in poorly lit environments. For toddlers, it is recommended to avoid all exposure to screens before the age of 3.
- Adopt the 20-20-20 rule
For those who work or study for a long time on a screen, breaks are essential. The 20-20-20 rule is a great way to soothe your eyes. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break by looking at a point 20 feet (about 6 meters) away.
- Don’t neglect outdoor activities
Natural light plays an essential role in the healthy development of the eye. Encourage children to spend time outside, whether it’s playing, playing sports or just going for a walk. Studies have shown that outdoor activities significantly reduce the risk of myopia in young people.
Sources: British Journal of Ophthalmology – EssilorLuxottica study carried out by Ipsos on a sample of 1,000 parents of children aged 5 to 17 surveyed from June 24 to July 15, 2024
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