← NewsAll
Eye health: 'Green time over screen time' can help protect vision
Summary
About 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable, experts say, and spending more time outdoors rather than close-up screen use is linked with slower progression of childhood myopia; regular eye examinations help detect age-related eye diseases early.
Content
About 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable, experts say. Rising rates of childhood myopia and common age-related eye changes have focused attention on how to protect vision across life. Research reported in the article finds no direct evidence that close-up screen use alone causes myopia; instead, less time outdoors may be a contributing factor. Eye specialists emphasise simple habits and regular check-ups as central to identifying and managing eye conditions.
Key points:
- Around one in three children and adolescents is now short-sighted, and that figure is rising.
- The article reports no clear evidence that close-up screen use directly causes myopia; screen time may displace outdoor activities that support healthy eye development.
- Getting one to two hours outdoors daily is reported to slow the progression of shortsightedness in children, possibly linked to light-driven release of dopamine involved in eye growth.
- Presbyopia and cataracts are described as age-related and largely inevitable; presbyopia has no prevention or cure and is managed clinically, while cataracts can be treated by replacing the lens.
- Glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration can sometimes be prevented or slowed; diet and not smoking may reduce risk, and early diagnosis is important because these conditions can be symptomless at first.
Summary:
Most vision loss is reported to be preventable or treatable, and experts link more outdoor time with slower myopia progression in children. Age-related changes such as presbyopia and cataracts are described as inevitable but manageable, while glaucoma and macular degeneration benefit from early detection. Experts report general eye-check guidance as every two to three years for people under 60, with more frequent checks as risk increases with age.
