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Children should be limited to one to two hours of television a day as a form of myopia (short-sightedness) control, reports the East Oregonian.
Studies have shown that children who spend more time focussing on far away objects are less likely to develop myopia.
Researchers in Singapore – where more than 80 per cent of 18-year-olds are short-sighted – believe the large amount of time children spend reading and looking at screens is a contributing factor to developing myopia.
The newspaper also cites a study of 12-year-olds in Australia, which showed that short-sighted children are more likely to spend lots of time focussing on near objects and less time outdoors.
Computer games and television programmes generally have a negative effect on children's mental, physical and social development. Childhood obesity – a contributor to poor eyesight – is more likely in children who spend longer in front of television and computer screens.
Contact lenses and glasses can be expensive for children, and a hassle for those that play sport.
Another form of
myopia control for children is
Orthokeratology contact lenses which are specially-designed to correct sight and eliminate the need for glasses or conventional contact lenses and also halt the progression of myopia in children.
Youngsters whose parents have myopia are more likely to develop the condition themselves and may benefit from using the
orthok lenses.
Orthokcorrective contact lenses are worn at night when they gently reshape the eye, acting like a dental brace, and working against the elongation of the eye which causes myopia.
The night time contact lenses give the wearer
natural vision during the daytime without the need for any other form of eye wear.
Susan Vitale, of the National Eye Institute in America, recently said that the reason -the rate of short-sightedness had increased by 66 per cent since the 1970s was because people are spending less time outdoors and more time indoors, engaging in activities requiring close-up viewing such as text-messaging, playing video games and surfing the internet.
Children's vision: Is your child suitable for i-GO Contact Lenses?
By Nick Howard
