A myopia epidemic is sweeping the globe. Here’s how to stop it Time spent outdoors is the best defence against rising rates of short-sightedness, but scientists are searching for other ways to reverse the troubling trend.A myopia epidemic is sweeping the globe. Here’s how to stop it Time spent outdoors is the best defence against rising rates of short-sightedness, but scientists are searching for other ways to reverse the troubling trend.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01518-2?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=bd1819e3da-nature-briefing-daily-20240530&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b27a691814-bd1819e3da-50432164 More screen time and indoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated an already troubling trend: more and more people have myopia, or short-sightedness. Spending more time outdoors during childhood is a simple solution for curbing myopia. But getting kids outdoors can be a tough sell, says ophthalmologist Nathan Congdon, particularly in urban areas or in societies with a strong emphasis on academic achievement. Some researchers are working on ways to bring the outside in, with glass classrooms, special lighting and nature-themed wallpapers. Delivering light directly into the eyeball is another strategy, though researchers disagree on what type of light is most beneficial and why.