Outdoor activity MAY STOP MYOPIA FROM DEVELOPING

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

I know that there are lot of people that frequent these eye Forums that are interested in myopia research. A study by Donald O Mutti PhD of the Ohio State State University has published a study in the January 2009 "Optometry and Vision Science" that seemed to indicate that children that spent an average of 14/hrs week out of doors were 40% less likely to develop myopia especially if they had risk factors of myopic parents, Asian descent and environmental risks of prolonged near work.

I cannot comment on the study since I have not read it. A summary can be found in the August 2009 EyeWorld (a publication of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery) page 12 and 13.

Remember one study does not make things an absolute fact but I know that some follow these types of studies

JCH MD

[nickppatel]

I haven't read the study, either, but I wonder if the positive effects are really due to spending time "outdoors" or due to NOT being indoors where kids are more prone to be doing nearwork (video games, books, TV).  I know many people here think nearwork does not contribute to myopia, and perhaps it doesn't, but my statement is just hypothetical (based on the study).

[walkietalkie]

I have read similar news before. I think there is perhaps some truth in it.

But i spent lots of time outdoors as a kid until now, and am still highly myopic! So i guess I'm not in that 40%

My myopia increased at an alarming rate of -1/ year when I was a kid but remained at -8 when I was in my late teens and has not progressed since.

[kjelltp]

Makes sense.  We weren't created to look at close objects all day long (tv, PC, cellphones),,go out in nature :D IMO

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Quoting the article from EyeWorld  " There's no correlation between the amount of sports time and the amount of near work time that these kids are doing. They're not doing one at the expense of the other"

The article says that a primary analysis statistically was done to be sure that the improvement in lack of myopia progress was NOT due to the kids being outdoors more and at the computer or reading less.

That is one thing that makes this study interesting. For those with profound interest I suggest reading the original scientific article.

JCH MD

[JodieJ]

Is it possible that the causal chain is reversed--i.e., kids with progressive myopia choose to spend more time indoors because indoor activities like computer games are a better fit for their abilities than sports which require good distance vision?  I'm always suspicious of conclusions based on correlational evidence.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

That's why I'm making no judgments. Just pointing out the article for the deep diggers that want to read the original study and draw their own conclusions.

JCH MD