How Outdoor Time Affects Children’s Myopia
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is becoming more common in children. Children with myopia see nearby objects clearly but have difficulty seeing objects farther away.
Genetics plays an important role, but daily habits also affect myopia risk. Research shows that spending more time outdoors helps reduce the risk of children developing myopia.
Why Is Outdoor Time Important?
Outdoor daylight exposure is associated with a lower risk of childhood myopia.
A large clinical study involving more than 1,900 children found that adding 40 minutes of outdoor activity during each school day reduced the number of children who developed myopia over three years.
Outdoor time is especially important for helping delay the onset of myopia. Children who already have myopia still require regular eye examinations and appropriate myopia management with treatment plans.
How Much Outdoor Time Should Children Get?
Encourage children to spend approximately one to two hours outdoors each day, with proper sun and UV protection.
Outdoor time does not need to involve organized sports. It can include:
Walking or cycling
Playing at the park
Backyard play
Outdoor sports
Hiking
Family activities outdoors
The goal is to make outdoor activity part of the child's regular daily routine.
What About Screens and Reading?
Children today spend significant amounts of time reading, studying, and using computers, tablets, and phones. Long periods of close-up work combined with limited outdoor time can increase myopia risk.
Parents can encourage healthier visual habits by:
Scheduling outdoor time every day
Taking regular breaks from homework and screens
Avoiding long periods of uninterrupted close-up work
Keeping books and devices at a comfortable viewing distance
Encouraging activities that involve looking farther away
The 20-20-20 rule is an easy reminder: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Signs of Myopia in Children
Children do not always realize their distance vision is blurry. Watch for signs such as:
Squinting when looking far away
Difficulty seeing the classroom board
Sitting very close to the television
Holding books or devices close to the face
Complaining of blurry distance vision
Headaches after visual tasks
If you notice these signs, arrange a comprehensive eye examination.
An eye exam evaluates more than how clearly your child can see. It also assesses prescription, eye health, focusing, and eye coordination.
How Often Should Children Have an Eye Exam?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends:
A first eye examination between 6 and 9 months of age
Another examination between 2 and 3 years of age
Annual eye examinations once a child begins school
Children with myopia or other vision concerns require regular monitoring.
School vision screenings are helpful, but they do not replace a comprehensive eye examination.
Myopia Management for Children
When myopia develops, regular monitoring is important because children's prescriptions can continue to change as their eyes grow.
Myopia management focuses on slowing the progression of nearsightedness and can include:
Myopia-control spectacle lenses
Specialized soft contact lenses
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Atropine eye drops
The appropriate treatment depends on the child's age, prescription, eye health, lifestyle, and rate of myopia progression.
Children's Myopia Care in Hamilton and Burlington
Parents can support healthy vision by encouraging daily outdoor time, regular breaks from close-up activities, and routine comprehensive eye examinations.
At LivingHope Vision Clinic, we provide children's eye exams and myopia management in Hamilton, Burlington, and surrounding communities. We monitor your child's vision, prescription changes, eye health, and myopia progression.
If your child is squinting, struggling to see the classroom board, or experiencing blurry distance vision, book a comprehensive eye examination at LivingHope Vision Clinic.
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