What to do about the high incidence of myopia in children during summer vacation? Please check out this "eye protection checklist-瞭望新时代网-瞭望时代，放眼世界

What to do about the high incidence of myopia in children during summer vacation? Please check out this "eye protection checklist

2026-07-06

Summer Break and Myopia Prevention: How Outdoor Activities Protect Children’s Eyesight With summer vacations starting across the country, many parents worry: “Will my child’s eyesight decline from spending all day on phones or tablets?” Multiple medical studies confirm that outdoor activities are currently recognized as a safe and effective method for myopia prevention. But why do outdoor activities protect eyes? How can we ensure they truly deliver preventive results? Let’s explore this with “Ask Health.” Three Key Points for Scientific Outdoor Activities: Ensure Duration: At least 2 hours daily Research shows that children with 2+ hours of outdoor activities daily have a ~60% lower risk of developing myopia compared to those with less than 1 hour daily. For children already nearsighted, it can also slow the progression of myopia. Choose the Right Time: Avoid midday strong sunlight Adequate light exposure is crucial for eye protection. In summer, opt for early morning or evening activities to avoid midday glare and high temperatures. Scattered light under tree shade or building shadows also works for prevention—even on cloudy days, outdoor light intensity is generally better than indoors. Combine Activity and Rest Simply being outdoors has eye-protective benefits, but pairing it with sports enhances results. In ball games or running, eyes constantly adjust focus to track moving objects, exercising eye muscles. Meanwhile, improved blood circulation delivers more nutrients to eye tissues. Dr. Fu Jing, Director of Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology at Beijing Tongren Hospital: “Accumulate at least 2 hours of outdoor activities daily, which can be split into sessions. But each session should last 20–30 minutes to be effective.” Scientific Eye Care by Age: Different Stages, Different Focuses Many parents go to great lengths to protect their children’s eyes—buying eye-care lamps, lutein supplements, blue-light-blocking glasses—but results vary. The issue may be that methods don’t align with the child’s age. Visual development in children and adolescents follows a progressive pattern, so eye care should target three key age stages: 3–6 Years (Preschool): Golden Period for Visual Development Myopia rates are low in this group, but cultivating good eye habits is critical. Strictly limit screen time—don’t use devices as babysitters—and ensure ample daytime outdoor activities. 7–12 Years (Primary School): Core Window for Myopia Prevention Focus on three priorities: maintain proper reading/posture, control continuous near-work duration, and坚持 daily outdoor activities. Recommend professional eye exams every 6 months (including vision, axial length, and medical refraction). Pseudomyopia can often be reversed with scientific intervention. 12+ Years: Stabilized Eye Structure, Risk of Rapid Myopia Progression For non-nearsighted children, new myopia cases drop significantly. But for those already nearsighted, myopia度数 tends to progress quickly. What to Do If Your Child Develops Myopia? Scientific Intervention is Key Many parents feel anxious when discovering their child’s myopia: eager to prescribe glasses but worried about dependency. In fact, standardized scientific methods exist for myopia management. Early detection and intervention can effectively control progression. Warning signs of declining vision include: frequent eye-rubbing, squinting, furrowing brows, tilting the head, leaning close to screens, or reporting blurred blackboard vision. Parents can monitor vision at home using standard vision charts. If abnormalities appear, seek professional exams at a licensed medical institution. Axial length is the core indicator for tracking myopia progression. Newborns have an axial length of ~16mm, while adults average ~24mm. Non-nearsighted children’s axial length grows ~0.25mm/year (ages 3–5) and ~0.18mm/year (ages 6–12). Nearsighted children’s axial length typically grows much faster, requiring timely scientific intervention. Dr. Fu Jing adds: “If a child is diagnosed with true myopia, glasses must be prescribed first. Options include defocus glasses or orthokeratology lenses (OK lenses). However, OK lenses are Class III medical devices—children must be fitted and used under doctor guidance at licensed medical institutions.” （Source: Liaowang New Era）

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