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A new British study has revealed some of the factors that may contribute to the risk of developing myopia in a child: it has been found that children born in summer and those who spend more time playing computer games are at an increased risk of develop the disease.
The study, conducted by King's College London, examined 1,991 twins, aged 16.7 years on average, all of whom participated in the long-term study of early development of twins (TEDS).
The researchers collected data on demographic, social, economic, educational, and behavioral factors among twins at various times between the ages of 2 and 16 to examine the critical stages of child and eye development.
Opticians were asked to provide information on myopia from eye tests of children, with parents and teachers being asked to complete questionnaires to provide information on other potentially relevant factors.
The results, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, showed that overall, one in four (26%) twins was myopic. The average age at which children with myopia began wearing glasses to correct this condition was 11 years old.
The researchers also found that the factors most strongly associated with the development of myopia were born during the summer, the number of hours spent playing computer games by children and the level of education of the mother.
The team explained that, since British children born in summer enter school earlier than those born in winter, they also start before work, for example with books, which can accelerate eye growth and cause myopia. Myopia may also result in more hours of computer gaming due to the proximity of work and the fact that spending more time playing a game indoors means less time to play. Outside, a factor that was previously associated with an increased risk of myopia.
The results also showed that fertility treatment was associated with a risk of developing myopia reduced by 25% to 30%. The team suggested that infants born in fertility treatment are often smaller and slightly premature, and may be delayed in development, leading to reduced eye length and decreased myopia.
Myopia, also called nearsightedness or myopia, is a condition in which the eye can not focus the light properly, which means close objects appear clear but distant objects appear blurry. It can be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses, as well as laser surgery, but is associated with a higher risk of vision loss and vision loss later in life.
The situation is becoming more and more common. It is projected that 4.758 billion people worldwide will be affected by 2050, up from 1.950 billion in 2010.
In an editorial, doctors from the Singapore National Eye Center, the Center for Eye Research in Melbourne, Australia, and the University of Melbourne pointed out that the study was using data collected before the huge rise in digital media, which could also play an important role in role.
"The increase in device display time (DST) resulting from games, social media and digital entertainment has resulted in an increase in sedentary behaviors, a poor diet and a lack of activities in the world." outdoors, "they said. "The use and misuse of smart devices, especially in our pediatric populations, need to be closely monitored to cope with the emerging phenomenon of digital myopia."
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