Spending two hours a day outdoors will help protect children’s eyesight, according to research.
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Spending two hours a day outdoors will help protect children’s eyesight, according to research.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), spending time outdoors helps children’s eyes develop more naturally.
“Many children spend hours each day doing near-vision activities. Just like other muscles in the body, the muscles in the eyes need time to relax. Going outdoors allows their eyes to look at objects in the distance, which gives their eyes a chance to recover from eye strain and fatigue,” the CDC website explains. “Playing outdoors also helps kids be physically active, get essential vitamin D from the sun, and improve their social skills.”
Australian National University conducted a two-year study involving more than 4,000 children. The study, published in 2008, found children who spend at least two hours a day outdoors have significantly lower risk of myopia (near-sightedness).
Similar research at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan convinced school officials in Taiwan to encourage all primary school students to spend at least two hours a day outdoors. The program has been hailed as successfully reducing the rate of myopia in children.
The CDC also advises children wear sunglasses. “Spending time outdoors has many health benefits, but you must also protect your child’s eyes from the sun. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays over time can be harmful to the eyes. For the best protection, make sure your child wears sunglasses that have 100% UV protection.”
The CDC offers other tips to keep your child’s eyes healthy: