The Korea Myopia Society announced preventive and management guidelines drawn up to slow the rise in myopia among children and adolescents.
Myopia is a condition that makes it difficult to see distant objects and worsens rapidly during growth. By the time a child feels vision loss and visits a hospital, it has often already progressed.
It is not just a matter of simple vision loss. It also raises the risk in adulthood of retinal detachment, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.
The Korea Myopia Society emphasized creating a proper learning environment and the importance of outdoor activity as "healthy lifestyle rules for our child's eyes (myopia)."
One of the lifestyle rules the society presented is "two hours of outdoor activity a day." The society explained that exposure to natural light (10,000 lux or more) lowers the rate of myopia progression by 30% to 50% compared with children who mainly stay indoors.
In the learning environment, the distance between the book and the eyes and lighting are also important. Maintain proper posture and minimize the use of smart devices.
If the prescription strength or optical center axis of glasses or contact lenses is inaccurate, it can accelerate the progression of myopia. The society stressed that an accurate examination and prescription from an ophthalmologist are necessary.
It also presented "rules to prevent myopia complications." High myopia is a major risk factor for serious eye diseases such as retinal detachment, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.
Do not rub or press the eyes. Physical pressure can irritate the eyes. If symptoms such as increased floaters, flashes, visual field obstruction, sudden vision loss, or objects appearing distorted occur, seek ophthalmic care immediately.
The society recommended that even without symptoms, patients with high myopia should receive annual checkups including retinal, optic nerve, and intraocular pressure tests.
Park Ki-ho, president of the Korea Myopia Society (professor of ophthalmology at Seoul National University Hospital), said, "Early diagnosis and lifestyle management are more important than anything else to prevent severe complications from myopia," and added, "We hope the recommendations presented by the society will be used as practical standards in clinical settings and at home."