Outdoor Activity During Class Recess Reduces Myopia Onset and Progression in School Children
Wu PC, Tsai CL, Wu HL, Yang YH, Kuo HK
Ophthalmology. 2013;120:1080-1085
Who Needs Myopia?
We love myopia. We hate myopia. Myopia is a sustaining force for many optometrists, despite knowing firsthand the trials and tribulations that accompany nearsightedness. Myopia marches on relatively unfazed by our humble attempts over centuries to eradicate it. Atropine drops, bifocals, and a handful of other methods have been used to thwart the development of myopia, yet none of these methods has successfully prevented the development or progression of myopia on a large scale. The prevalence of myopia is on the rise in the United States, increasing an estimated 16.6% since the early 1970s.
Why try to eliminate a condition that generates patients for our practices and allows us to exhibit our carefully honed refracting skills? Myopia is a burden on the healthcare system and an inconvenience to those who are affected by it. Uncorrected myopia results in poorer performance in academic and vocational settings. High myopia comes with its own set of risks, including retinal detachment and reduced potential visual acuity.