The longer the time spent one screen a day, the more the risk of myopia increases, says a team of researchers.
- A new study shows that an additional hour spent in front of a screen increases the risk of myopia by 21 %, and this double risk beyond four hours daily.
- By 2050, almost half of the world’s population could be affected. Urbanization and the decrease in time spent outside are aggravating factors.
- Reducing only the use of screens is not enough: it is essential to limit all close vision activities and increase time outdoors to preserve your visual health.
Watching a screen for too long increase the risk of myopia? This is what a recent analysis conducted by the National University of Seoul, in South Korea suggests. It reveals that an additional hour of daily exposure to screens increases the probabilities of developing this condition by 21 %. Worse, the risks double for people spending more than four hours a day in front of a screen – this is the case in France, with an average of 4 hours and 37 minutes daily.
A direct correlation between screen time and myopia
To reach this conclusion, detailed in Jama Network Openthe researchers compiled data from 45 previous research, totaling more than 335,000 participants. The results show a marked dose-response relationship: the longer the time in front of a screen, the more the risk of myopia increases. This association remains significant independently of other activities involving the vision “up close”, such as reading or writing.
Touching 20 % of children aged 0 to 18 and 37 % of adults In France, myopia is characterized by a clear vision closely but blurred by far. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, it notably prevents driving without glasses or contact lenses. By 2050, almost half of the world’s population could be affected by this condition, experts say. They point to certain environmental factors, such as the urbanization of society, the decrease in time spent outside and the multiplication of activities requesting close vision. Starting with smartphones and tablets screens, which “introduced new forms of activity close to work”can we read in a press release.
How to limit risks?
“While children are using these devices more and more from an early age and spend more time on screens, it is urgent to better understand links between digital screen and myopia” links “but also with other vision disorders, the researchers insist. Recently, experts had sounded the alarm on the risk of eye dryness, a condition that usually affects those over 50, in children who spent too much time in front of the screens. Not to mention the visual fatigue felt by many.
Scientists recommend that they do not just reduce the use of screens for the benefit of other non -digital activities such as reading. According to them, a more effective strategy would be to minimize all close vision activities and simply increase time outside.
