New Study Reveals that Bright Sunlight Can Reduce Risk of Myopia in Children

August 14, 2024 TruthUSA

The authors discovered that along with the duration of time spent outside, the intensity of sunlight played a crucial role in preventing myopic shift in children.

A recent study has revealed that just fifteen minutes a day spent outside in bright sunlight could aid in preventing myopia in children.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) today, was part of the Shanghai Time Outside to Reduce Myopia trial—a two-year study from October 2016 to December 2018 that followed school children in Shanghai.

The objective of the study was to investigate various patterns of sun exposure and their impact on the progression of myopia in children.

Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects a large portion of the U.S. population and is on the rise, with nearly half expected to have it by 2050 according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The study aimed to explore different sun exposure patterns and their association with the progression of myopia, or nearsightedness, in children.

Study Details

The JAMA study followed 2,976 children aged approximately seven years, split almost evenly between boys and girls, in a one-year prospective cohort. They wore smartwatches to track their outdoor time and sunlight exposure.

Twelve different outdoor exposure patterns were examined, with specific emphasis on spending at least 15 minutes outside with sunlight intensity of 2000 lux or more, which helped reduce myopia progression over a year.

The study concluded that not only the total time spent outdoors is crucial, but also the specific exposure patterns, especially continuous exposure for at least 15 minutes in bright sunlight.

Everyday Lux Examples

A minimum of 2000 lux was found necessary to slow myopia progression in children. For reference, the lux levels for various light sources were discussed.

Myopia in Children

The study emphasized the rise of myopia globally, especially in East and Southeast Asia, and the potential risks associated with it.

The authors highlighted the lower outdoor exposure among children in China compared to other countries due to various factors like schooling, homework, and sociocultural norms.

Conclusion

While the study provides valuable insights, the authors acknowledged certain limitations and the need for further research to confirm the findings over longer periods and in varied populations.

The authors suggested that efforts to prevent myopia should focus on both the total outdoor time and exposure to intense sunlight for at least 15 minutes at a time.

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