The myopia rate in elementary schools in Kaohsiung is 45.91%, which is higher than that in Tokyo, Japan. Children’s vision care needs to start from infancy.

120 minutes of outdoor activities for students every day can help reduce the rate of myopia. (Photo by reporter Xu Lijuan)

The myopia rate among elementary school children in Kaohsiung City is as high as 45.91%, which is much higher than the myopia rate among elementary school students in Tokyo, Japan, which is 36.8%. Hong Qiting, CEO of the Dat Young Eye Alliance and visiting professor of ophthalmology at the Japan Defense Medical University, said that Japan has the most complete strategy for children’s vision care in the world. In addition to annual health examinations in schools, vision and strabismus amblyopia screenings are conducted for 3-year-old children to enable early detection and treatment before the golden development period of 6 years old.

Hong Qiting pointed out that if the naked eye visual acuity does not reach 0.9 in any eye, it is judged as poor vision. The reasons for the decline in students' vision in recent years include the increase in the time spent using smartphones, tablets and digital learning vehicles at close range, as well as the decrease in time for outdoor activities.

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Eye care should start as soon as the baby is born. Hong Qiting said that after birth, parents should start to observe whether the child has strabismus, nystagmus or abnormal pupil white reflex, avoid direct bright light in the eyes of infants and young children, and try to turn off the lights when sleeping. The Ministry of Health and Welfare also recommends that children under 2 years old avoid contact with any "screen" products.

The critical period for controlling myopia is between the ages of 3 and 18. Hong Qiting said that screen time should be controlled and the "20-20-20" principle should be implemented, that is, using the eyes at close range for 20 minutes and looking at a scene 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Outdoor activities must also be increased to 2 hours a day or at least 14 hours a week. Sunlight stimulates the release of dopamine, which can effectively delay the elongation of the eye axis. Starting from the age of 3. 4 years old, the first complete vision and refraction examination will be carried out, and then regular re-examinations will be carried out every six months.

Hong Qiting reminded that when children have these behaviors, such as "changes in viewing habits", such as watching TV or screens getting closer and closer; often squinting, frowning or tilting their heads when looking at distant objects, frequently rubbing their eyes and blinking, often complaining that their heads hurt, and having difficulty concentrating, it may be a sign of myopia and they should seek medical examination immediately.

Hong Qiting explained that when the eyes look at near objects for a long time, "ciliary muscle spasm and excessive contraction" are caused, and the eyes cannot relax to see far away, resulting in myopia during refraction, which is the so-called "pseudomyopia". It is muscle fatigue and the axial length of the eye has not changed. It is reversible. "True myopia" means that the axis of the eye has been elongated, causing structural changes that cannot be restored through rest or medicine.

The treatment of "pseudomyopia" is mainly based on short-acting mydriatic medication. The purpose is to fully relax the ciliary muscles that cause spasm caused by long-term viewing of near objects, so that the focus of the eyeball can return to normal. It is usually used before going to bed so that the eyeballs can get a full rest during sleep at night. At the same time, it is necessary to adjust the lifestyle habits and eye behavior, increase outdoor activities, especially eye training to focus far and near alternately, such as playing table tennis, badminton, etc., which can allow the eyeball muscles to focus far and near, and is effective for relaxing the ciliary muscles. Applying hot compress to the eyes several times a day for 10 to 15 minutes each time can also promote blood circulation around the eyes and reduce muscle fatigue.

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