Abstract
Presentation Description :
Myopia is one of the most prevalent eye diseases and a worldwide public health burden. Accordingly, preventive measures are necessary for each step of myopia progression toward vision loss. Approaches to prevent myopia-related blindness should therefore, first, attempt to prevent or delay the onset of myopia among children by increasing outdoor time, the most important modifiable environmental factor for myopia. In the past decade, several randomized clinical trials and cohort studies have addressed the protective role of increased outdoor time on the prevention of myopia onset. High light Lux levels entering the eye may release retinal dopamine and prevent myopia. We have developed an outdoor fitness tracker FitSight that monitors light in Lux and outdoor time minute by minute. Comprehensive outdoor and indoor measurements of Lux with a light meter attached to the eye of our mannequin have also been conducted. The unique spectral composition of sunlight outdoors and may also be protective. Several longitudinal studies suggest that outdoor time may slow the progression of myopia. Thus, in myopic children, combined treatment with atropine eyedrops, novel contact lenses or spectacles in combination with increased outdoor time may increase the effectiveness of the retardation of myopia progression.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.