June 6 is the National Eye Care Day. In recent years, the prevalence of myopia among young people around the world has remained high. Since the new crown epidemic, due to the reduction of outdoor activities and the increase of online classes using electronic devices, the rate of myopia among teenagers has further increased. In order to help young people prevent myopia and grow up healthily, ophthalmologists from many countries put forward scientific eye recommendations.
The first trick of scientific eyes: to ensure correct posture. The Japanese Ophthalmologists Association recommends that to prevent myopia, you need to pay attention to the correct posture when reading and writing, sit upright, and ensure that the distance between the eyes and the book is about 30 cm. The Korea Times quoted Kim Ying-soo, a doctor at Kim's Eye Hospital in South Korea, as saying that under the remote teaching method, students should understand how to properly use electronic devices, such as at least 50 cm from the screen.
The second trick of scientific eye use: avoid eye fatigue. The Japanese Ophthalmologists Association recommends that in order to prevent eye fatigue, it is necessary to rest for 5 to 10 minutes for 1 hour of eye use, and try not to continue for more than 40 minutes when playing video games. Maria Levina, an ophthalmologist at Eyecraft Ophthalmology Studio in Russia, suggested: "Children under 4 should not be exposed to electronic products at all; children under 8 should not be exposed to electronic products for more than 15 to 20 minutes a day; children over 12 should not be exposed to electronic products every day. Should not exceed 2 hours."
Felix Dias, former president of the Panama Ophthalmological Society, mentioned the "20-20-20" formula, that is, when using electronic devices, stop looking at the screen for 20 seconds every 20 minutes, and look 20 feet (about 6 meters) far away. Rest your eyes outside.
The third trick of scientific eyes: increase outdoor activities. Frank Schaefer, an expert at the Institute of Ophthalmology at the University of Tübingen in Germany, said the best way to prevent myopia is to spend enough time outside, such as two hours a day. Myopia usually appears between the ages of 8 and 15, but eye development doesn't end until around the age of 16 to 18, at least until then, enough sunlight can inhibit myopia progression. Park Yujing, an ophthalmologist at Bright World in Gangnam, South Korea, also suggested that you should ensure daily outdoor activities, get more sunlight, and promote the synthesis of vitamin D, thereby preventing myopia.
The fourth trick of scientific eye use: regular visual inspection. Park Yujing suggested to do a vision check every six months. Cristina Garcia, an ophthalmologist at the Martinez Garcia Eye Clinic in Panama, recommends regular eye exams between six months and a year. Raul Perez, a doctor at the Cuban Eye Institute, also said that children should avoid using electronic screens within 1 to 2 hours before going to bed, and have eye examinations every year if conditions permit.
The principal of a school in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, introduced that the school has established an alliance with an eye clinic to conduct eye examinations for all students and staff every year.
(Originally titled "Popular Science: How Teenagers Use Their Eyes Scientifically, Multinational Experts Advise")