Myopia, to be born in summer?

Children who spend years in in the summer especially those who spend many hours playing with smartphones and tablets, could be at a higher risk Sight's Problems suggests a new study.

Myopia is increasing worldwide. This is what doctors call a refractive error, which means that the eyes can not focus the light properly. Result: Nearby objects are clear and distant objects are blurred.

It is most often caused by the continuous focus on nearby objects while the eyes are still developing, for example during playback. However, the increasing use of electronic devices seems to compound the problem, researchers report.

"As always, everything should be done in moderation," said lead researcher Dr. Christopher Hammond, professor of ophthalmology at King's College London, England. Urged parents to limit the use of electronic devices by children.

This seems to be particularly important in children who were born in the summer suggests the study. Indeed, they begin their formal education earlier than children born in winter and are therefore exposed to reading before. And this increases the risk of myopia, said the researchers.

They added that although their study does not prove that the smartphones tablets and computer games cause myopia, these devices could cause children to spend less time in the future. # 39; outside. And spending less time outdoors also seems to increase the risk of myopia.

"We know that the time spent outdoors is a protection, so children should probably spend up to two hours a day outside," Hammond said.

Myopia can be corrected with the help of glbades, laser surgery or contact lenses. But at a later age, those who suffer from myopia are more likely to develop conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma, such as cataracts or glaucoma, warned researchers.

Experts predicted that by 2050, nearly 5 billion people worldwide will be affected by myopia. This is compared to about 2 billion in 2010.

Genes have been badociated with the risk of developing a person's health condition, but even if the latter has a genetic component, this "Do not explain this dramatic increase," Hammond said.

In his study, his team collected data on nearly 2,000 twins born in the United Kingdom between 1994 and 1996.

Researchers examined eye test results, as well as social data, economic, educational, and behavioral outcomes of twins aged 2 to 16 years. Parents and teachers also completed questionnaires.

On average, children started wearing glbades for myopia at age 11. About 5% had amblyopia ("lazy eye") and about 5% had strabismus. In total, 26% of twins were myopic, according to the study.

Children whose mothers went to college, those who were born during the summer and those who spent more time using electronic devices had an increased risk of myopia found study

The findings were published in the online edition of the British Journal of Ophthalmology on November 6.

Dr. Tien Wong, Medical Director of the National Eye Center of Singapore, is co-author of an editorial published with the study.

"The evidence shows a link between the amount of time spent in screen-based devices and myopia, including the time spent on phones and tablets," he says. he declares.

This is disturbing given the number of young children who have access to these devices, Wong added. Evidence shows that 2-year-olds spend up to two hours a day using digital devices.

"Managing the time your child spends in front of screens and increasing their play time outside can help reduce the risk of developing myopia," Wong said. "We need to better monitor our children's activities with the devices even during their preschool years."

Surprisingly, the researchers said that the risk of myopia was 25 to 30% lower in children born as a result of fertility treatment. They stated that this may be due to the fact that many are born prematurely and have developmental delays, which could explain a reduced eye length and a reduced number of cases of myopia .