Computer games link to rising myopia in young
Academic pressure and computer games combined with misconceptions about wearing glasses are to blame for a rise in the number of short-sighted children, eye specialists say.
An online survey by Chinese University and the Project Vision Charitable Foundation found 43.1 per cent of 1,965 primary school pupils had myopia - up from the 36.1 per cent recorded 10 years ago.
The percentage of those with high myopia also increased, from 1.3 per cent a decade ago to 2.1 per cent.
Dr Dexter Leung Yu-lung, assistant professor of the university's department of ophthalmology and visual sciences, said schoolchildren in Hong Kong on average spent 3.5 hours each day reading, watching television and looking at computers, all of which required close visual work and could worsen myopia.
Meanwhile, only 0.84 hours each day was spent on outdoor activities, which could help slow the progression of myopia. 'We don't think we can convince Hong Kong parents to let their children read less or look at computer screens for a shorter period of time,' he said. 'So, we hope to encourage them to take their children out more often.'
Department chairman Professor Dennis Lam Shun-chiu said misconceptions about wearing spectacles were common among pupils.
The study found 56 per cent of respondents thought wearing spectacles would worsen myopia, 54 per cent found wearing them uncomfortable, and 50 per cent said spectacles would adversely affect their daily life and appearance.
'Some parents think their children's myopia will worsen if they wear glasses, but that's wrong,' Lam said ... they are not a factor in worsening myopia.'
Lam said it was a worrying sign that so many primary pupils had myopia. Those with severe myopia had a two to four-fold higher chance of suffering from glaucoma (optic nerve damage), retinal detachment, bleeding in the macula (central sensitive area of the retina) and cataracts.
Chan Chi-hung, principal of AD & FDPOH Ltd Leung Sing Tak School, agreed that increasing parental pressure could be a reason why myopia was more prevalent among pupils, as parents were more concerned about their children's studies.
'They don't want their children to be inferior to others at the starting point [primary school],' he said.
More time spent on computers and vigilance about eye health also contributed to a growing number of children wearing glasses, he said. 'More parents bring their children for eye checks at a young age.'
But Lam Wai-ling, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association, said she did not see increasing parental pressure as a main factor. 'Children now spend more time on computers, and games with moving graphics and this will affect their vision,' she said.
