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Study links outdoor activity with low myopia prevalence in children
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Spending more time outdoors appears to reduce the prevalence of myopia in children and may be associated with a more hyperopic mean refraction, according to a new analysis of data from the Sydney Myopia Study.
"The apparent protective effect of time spent outdoors suggests that a public health measure aimed at preventing development of myopia could be based on increasing the engagement of children in outdoor activity," the study authors said in the August issue of Ophthalmology.
Kathryn A. Rose, PhD, and colleagues evaluated the relationship between potential environmental risk factors for myopia, including near work, mid-working distance and outdoor activities, with myopia prevalence among 4,132 school-aged children attending 51 schools in Sydney, Australia, between 2003 and 2005. Specifically, 1,765 children were 6 years old, and 2,367 children were 12 years old. All children underwent comprehensive eye examinations, and parents and children completed standardized questionnaires concerning activity.
In the 12-year-old children, the investigators found that higher levels of outdoor activity, including sport and leisure activities, were associated with more hyperopic refractions and lower myopia prevalence.
Children who reported combining high levels of near work with low levels of outdoor activity had the least hyperopic mean refraction (+0.27 D); however, children who reported mixing low levels of near work with high levels of outdoor activity had the most hyperopic mean refraction (+0.56 D), according to the study.
"Significant protective associations with increased outdoor activity were seen for the lowest (P = .04) and middle (P = .02) tertiles of near-work activity," the authors said.
After adjusting for confounders, the investigators observed the lowest odds ratios for myopia in groups reporting the highest levels of outdoor activity; however, no associations were found between indoor sports and myopia.
The investigators observed no consistent associations between refraction and activity in the 6-year-old children.