A recent study has revealed that just fifteen minutes of daily exposure to bright sunlight could help prevent myopia in children.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), was part of the Shanghai Time Outside to Reduce Myopia trial. This trial followed school children in Shanghai for two years and aimed to investigate the impact of sun exposure on myopia progression.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population and is increasing in prevalence. The study followed 2,976 children aged around seven years and found that spending at least 15 minutes outside in bright sunlight helped reduce myopic shift.
The children wore smartwatches to track their outdoor time and sunlight exposure. Different patterns of outdoor exposure were examined, with the most beneficial being at least 15 minutes in sunlight with an intensity of 2000 lux or more.
Myopia is a growing global health issue, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. The study emphasizes the importance of outdoor time and sunlight exposure in preventing myopia progression.
While the study provides valuable insights, the authors acknowledge limitations and call for further research to confirm their findings over extended periods and in different populations.
In conclusion, efforts to prevent myopia should focus on both the total time spent outdoors and exposure to intense sunlight for at least 15 minutes at a time.
