While genetics is mostly blamed for the staggering rate of myopia, recent studies are pointing to the lack of exposure to natural light as a risk factor.
November 29, 2022 — If you are having difficulty viewing distant objects such as grocery markers or street signs, and these only become easy to see when you’re in close proximity, there is a chance you are myopic.
Commonly known as nearsightedness, myopia is the leading cause of visual impairment in children. Singapore has been labeled “the myopia capital of the world” for having the highest number of reported cases of myopia of around 80% in young adults. With its growing prevalence, it is projected that almost half of the world’s population will have myopia by 2050.
Screening and progression prevention
According to Dr. Leo Cubillian, ophthalmologist and director of the UP Manila National Institutes of Health’s Philippine Eye Research Institute, around two million Filipinos are visually impaired. The most common cases are cataracts, uncorrected errors of refraction, and problems of vision brought on by diabetes complications. However, with many people left undiagnosed, the actual prevalence could be more.
He presented the results of the 2018 Philippine Eye Disease Study which showed that 9% of kindergarten kids are affected with visual impairments. This doubles when they reach adolescence; as 16% of high school students are found to have a visual impairment and 90% of these cases are myopia.
While genetics is mostly blamed for the staggering rate of myopia, recent studies are pointing to the lack of exposure to natural light as a risk factor. Community lockdowns deprived the eyes of natural light, especially among children who learned from home and stayed in front of computers and other digital devices for long periods, thus contributing to more eye problems.
The Philippines has a National Vision Screening Program (NVSP) that was enacted in July 2019. This law mandates the screening of kindergarten pupils to identify eye problems and treat them as early as 3-5 years old. The program was implemented pre-pandemic when school teachers across the country were trained to use the PERI Vision Screening Kit. Ophthalmologists also went around the country to perform vision screening, but had to shift the screening online when the pandemic struck.
Kids who were identified to have visual impairment by using the kit are advised to sit at the front row or near the blackboard and are referred to eye care professionals for proper management.
The Vision Screening Kit
The role of parents and pediatricians
While the NVSP mandates screening of 3-5 years olds, Dr. Lorna Abad who was former chair of the UP-PGH Department of Pediatrics said that as early as birth, doctors and parents should be cognizant of a child’s potential eye and vision problems.
Hence, parents need to be informed of practical tell-tale signs to look out for which include the child’s response to colorful figures, distance to the screen when watching, tilting the head or looking sideways when looking at something, and their performance in school.
“Healthy brain function needs healthy eyesight,” Dr. Abad explained. “Good vision contributes to improved athletic ability, better driving skills, improved learning and comprehension, and better quality of life.”
For Dr. Abad, pediatricians have a crucial role in lowering the figures of vision or eye problems by checking for abnormalities or infections at specific growth milestones from infancy, childhood, to adolescence.
“Healthy brain function needs healthy eyesight,” Dr. Abad explained. “Good vision contributes to improved athletic ability, better driving skills, improved learning and comprehension, and better quality of life.”
Path to action
Both doctors emphasized that uncorrected vision problems have a dramatic impact on learning capabilities and social growth. It is imperative in this digital world that children are exposed to outdoor light for at least three hours per day to help prevent vision problems or reduce the progression of myopia.
The Department of Education has expressed its support by mandating the allotment of one-hour outdoor activities daily for kindergarten and primary school students.
Parents must also limit their children’s screen time, as prescribed by the World Health Organization, to a maximum of one hour only per day for 2-5 year olds and no screen time for children 0-2 years.
In general, a healthy diet, exercise, outdoor activities of at least one hour per day, and avoidance of sweet drinks promote better health for each child.
Anne Marie Alto
