The increase in myopia (myopia) is largely due not to “screens per se” but to a combination of prolonged work at close range and inadequate indoor lighting, follows from a hypothesis by SUNY College of Optometry researchers presented in a release for publication in Cell Reports.
The authors attribute the possible mechanism to the fact that when focusing on close objects, the pupil may constrict not only from bright light, but also as part of accommodation – to increase clarity. In dim light conditions, this can markedly reduce retinal illumination, which, according to the researchers, may be a common link for risk factors for myopia and for part of the approaches to its control, including time outdoors. However, the authors themselves emphasise that this is a tested hypothesis and further research is required.
The problem of myopia is seen as a long-term global trend: one of the most cited projections (meta-analysis in Ophthalmology) expects that by 2050, myopia could affect about half of the world’s population, with high myopia affecting about 10%.
To date, the evidence base generally supports the role of ‘lifestyle’: more time outdoors is statistically associated with a lower risk of developing myopia and with slower ocular elongation in children, and one of the biological pathways discussed is light-stimulated release of dopamine.eye. In practical terms, ophthalmologists generally advise reading and studying in adequate general lighting, regular pauses for nearby work, and more frequent exposure to daylight;a face-to-face check-up with a specialist is recommended if there are complaints or rapid deterioration of vision.