Myopia is an ophthalmology problem that affects more and more people. By 2050, half of humanity could be affected.
- The first national myopia information and screening days will take place from 21 to 25 November.
- 8 out of 10 French people do not imagine that myopia can lead to blindness.
One in two humans could be affected by myopia by 2050, according to the Institute for Medical Education and Prevention (IEMP), which has just launched the first national myopia information and screening campaign.
Sharp up close, blurry from afar
Myopia is a vision disorder. People who have it see clearly up close, but blurry from afar. They are thus obliged to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct this problem.
The problem of activities that require near vision
Among the documents made available to the public in the national campaign organized by Progress Microfinance, the results of a Ipsos survey published this Friday, June 24. They calculated the time spent by the children in activities that solicit near vision… And the results are impressive.
7h28 for 14-18 year olds
They observed 3 hours and 29 minutes for 3-6 year olds, 4 hours and 3 minutes for 7-10 year olds, 6 hours 54 minutes for 11-13 year olds and 7 hours 28 minutes for 14-18 year olds. This mainly concerns the use of screens (smartphones, tablets, computers, video games, etc.) but also reading.
Other risk factors…
Time spent in front of screens and reading are therefore risk factors for myopia, but they are not the only ones. According to this survey, there would also be heredity, ethnic origin (the Chinese would not be more at risk, for example), low exposure to daylight and intensive work in the context of studies.
…still too little known
But all these risk factors for myopia would be poorly understood by the French. For example, only one in four knows that the more time a child spends outdoors, the more they reduce – by about 23% – their risk of becoming nearsighted.
Have your eyes checked regularly
Thus, to protect the eyes of adults and those of the youngest, it is therefore advisable not to stay locked up for too long and to limit the use of screens or activities that require near sight. Finally, you must also – and above all – go regularly to the ophthalmologist, every two to five years for adults, in order to check your eyesight… Like many diseases, the earlier myopia is detected, the better the treatment will be. .
