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Myopia Mitigation
Lifestyle Related Advice

This Myopia Moment provides a brief overview of three lifestyle factors to include in conversations with children and their parents about myopia management. Please refer to the source references for more details.

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1
TWO
HOURS OUTSIDE PER DAY
WHAT WE KNOW:
Studies have found that time spent outdoors can help prevent or delay the onset of myopia or halt or slow its progression.
WHY?
While more research is ongoing, factors such as the 3D nature and bright light that come with time spent outdoors have a positive effect on the development and progression of myopia.
WHAT TO RECOMMEND?
Mention that the more time spent outside the better the effect. Suggest a minimum 2 hours per day of outdoor activity at any point during the day, including school time
  • Flitcroft DI The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res 2012;31:622-660.
  • Ngo C. Does sunlight (bright lights) explain the protective effects of outdoor activity against myopia? Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2013;33:368-372.
  • Ramamurthy D et al. A review of environmental risk factors for myopia during early life, childhood and adolescence. Clin Exp Optom 2015;98:497 506.
  • Wollffsohn JS et al. IMI – Myopia Control Reports Overview and Introduction. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019; 60(2):M1-M19.
  • Wu PC et al. Increased Time Outdoors Is Followed by Reversal of the LongTerm Trend to Reduced Visual Acuity in Taiwan Primary School Students. Ophthalmology 2020; 127(11):1462-1469.
2
TWO
EXAMS PER YEAR
WHAT WE KNOW:
It is important to provide comprehensive eye exams to children early to delay the onset or slow the progression of myopia. The signs of a child becoming myopic may already be evident in 4 year-olds.
WHY?
Behavioral changes and optical interventions have the most impact when initiated as early as possible.
WHAT TO RECOMMEND?
  • Encourage pre-school age children to come in for a comprehensive eye exam.
  • Follow-up: Yearly examinations or twice a year for children at particular risk.
  • Breslin, KMM. A Prospective Study of Spherical Refractive Error and Ocular Components Among Northern Irish Schoolchildren (The NICER Study). IOVS July 2013, Vol.54, 4843 4850.
  • Gifford KL et al. IMI Clinical Management Guidelines Report. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019;60(3):M184 M203.
3
TWO
MAXIMUM OF SCREEN TIME
WHAT WE KNOW:
Some studies have found a correlation between screen time and near work with the onset of myopia.
WHY?
Further research is needed to understand why excess viewing on devices and near work may influence myopia, but eye care professionals have reported higher rates of myopia during the COVID-19 pandemic as more children have increased schoolwork due to remote screen time.
WHAT TO RECOMMEND?
Encourage patients to follow the 20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen take a break by looking into the distance for 20 seconds.
  • Wildsoet CF et al. IMI – Interventions Myopia Institute: Interventions for Controlling Myopia Onset and Progression Report. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019;60(3):M106-M31
  • Wolffsohn JS et al (2019): Myopia Control Overview and Introduction, International Myopia Institute.
  • Xiong S et al. Time spent in outdoor activities in relation to myopia prevention and control: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Acta Ophthalmol 2017;95:551-566.
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Prepared by the World Council of Optometry Myopia Management Resource Committee 2021. The World Council of Optometry Myopia Management Standard of Care initiative is supported by a grant from CooperVision.

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