Until not long ago, it was believed that reading, extensive schooling and computer work were the main factors that contributed to the ever-increasing rate of myopia in children. While these three causes have not been eliminated completely from the equation, a new study performed by Australian researchers has showed that the main trigger could actually be not spending enough time outdoors.

In other words, the research has brought strong evidence supporting the fact that children should spend an average of 2-3 hours outdoors on a daily basis, in order to reduce the risks of becoming short-sighted later in life almost by half. The new findings come thus to challenge the age-old theory according to which the time a child spends outside playing has no role in the way their eyesight develops in later years.

The study involved a comparative analysis of the vision and habits of children aged six and seven from Singapore and Australia, undertaken by researchers from the Australian government. They found that 30 percent of the children in Singapore were suffering from myopia, which translated into ten times the rate in those from Australia.  

Further investigation showed that the considerable difference in the rates of myopia could not be explained by genetic factors. Moreover, both study groups spent almost the same amount of time reading, in front of the computer and watching TV. What the Australian children did, though, that the Singaporean ones did not, was to play outdoors longer, about 90 minutes per day more.

“The idea that reading makes you short-sighted has been popular for a couple of hundred years. But recent data shows that the time spent indoors is a more important factor.” Professor Ian Morgan of the Australian Research Council's Vision Centre said, stressing the increasing and disturbing rate of myopia in children.

Researcher Dr. Kathryn Rose also emphasized the importance of having children spend more time outside, since the light there is hundreds of times stronger than the one indoors and can thus lower the risks of developing short-sightedness. “Our evidence suggests that the key factor is being outdoors and it does not matter if that time is spent having a picnic or playing sport. Both will protect a child’s eyes from growing excessively, which is a major cause of myopia.” Dr. Rose explained.