Last Updated on 2022-10-21 , 2:55 pm
How many of you are wearing contact lens or glasses right now?
I bet out of five people, four of you would raise up your hands.
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Well, according to a report, more than 83 per cent of young adults have myopia.
Guess what? This is more than four in five people!
Singapore’s Myopia Rate is The Highest In The World
Myopia rate in Singapore is among the highest in the world; with 65 per cent of children having myopia by Primary 6.
This is alarming as childhood myopia is not showing any signs of decreasing.
In fact, it is projected that 80 to 90 per cent of all Singapore adults above 18 will be myopia.
Out of these myopic individuals, 15 to 25 per cent may have high myopia.
These are distressing statistics to look at, don’t you think so?
Why is This So
This is most likely due to the increased emphasis on academic pursuits, which led to a decrease in outdoor activity.
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Myopia in Singapore generally sets in around seven to nine years old in a child, when the child is in their primary school years and starting out their education.
This means that intervention at a young age is important to prevent myopia.
Plus, myopia could possibly lead to complications in the future.
Prevention
To curb this problem, eye doctors advise children to have at least two hours of outdoor time every day.
Studies suggest that regular outdoor time in young children helps to prevent myopia and its progression by around 10 to 20 per cent.
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This is due to the increase in light exposure from outdoors, the depth of field and the release of dopamine.
It’s also a good habit to allow children as young as three to six years old to spend more time outdoors, especially now when games are played on the screen instead of on the field.
Featured Image: TODAY
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