Protect the light of childhood, nurture dreams and aspirations for future generations

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - In the context of modern society, when the use of technological devices becomes popular and the pace of living and studying is increasingly dense, children's eyes are often under pressure, with little time to rest. Therefore, caring for and protecting children's eyesight has become an issue that needs the attention of the whole society.

Ophthalmologist ( Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital) examines children's eyes.

It is not difficult to see children wearing glasses in every family and classroom. Even many children only 5-6 years old have to wear thick glasses. Sharing about this situation, many parents said that controlling children's use of smart devices is extremely difficult. In addition, living environments lacking natural light also cause the rate of children with myopia to increase.

Ms. Hoang Thi Trang in Hac Thanh ward said: “My son has had astigmatism since he was 6 years old. I was subjective and did not take him to see a doctor early, so when I discovered that he was quite nearsighted and had astigmatism. At first, I thought that I just needed to limit my son's TV and phone viewing, but in reality, studying a lot and not having time for outdoor activities did not improve his eyesight. The family was really worried because he was still young and had to wear glasses.”

Dr. Hoang Hoa Quynh, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital, commented: "The increasing trend of refractive errors in children in recent years is alarming, even likened to an "epidemic". The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2050, about 50% of the global population will be nearsighted, most of whom will start at school age. In many East Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Singapore, the rate of nearsightedness in high school students has reached 70-80%. In Vietnam, the rate of nearsighted children is also increasing rapidly, especially in urban areas. More worryingly, children begin to have nearsightedness at an increasingly young age, only from 5-7 years old, and the severity gradually increases as they progress through school."

Common refractive errors in children include: nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and amblyopia; of which nearsightedness is the most common. The cause is determined to be a combination of genetic factors and modern lifestyle. If parents are nearsighted or astigmatic, the risk of their children having refractive errors is higher. Premature babies are at greater risk. In addition, unreasonable learning and living environments such as reading and writing for long periods of time, sitting in the wrong position, too close a distance, lack of light, and overuse of electronic devices cause the eyes to have to adjust continuously, easily tiring and weakening. The habit of little outdoor activity and lack of nutrition (vitamins A, C, E, zinc, Omega-3) also increases the risk.

The consequences of children with refractive errors that are not detected and treated early are very worrying, such as children often sitting close to the board, squinting, bending over when reading, often complaining of eye fatigue, headaches, loss of concentration, leading to learning decline. If not intervened promptly, children are at risk of amblyopia, strabismus, and prolonged vision loss. More seriously, severe myopia can lead to dangerous complications such as retinal degeneration, retinal detachment, and even blindness in adulthood.

For prevention, Dr. Hoang Hoa Quynh recommends that parents guide their children to follow the 20-20-20 principle: after every 20 minutes of studying or using the screen, they need to rest their eyes for 20 seconds, look about 6 meters away to relax. Children should keep a safe distance when reading (30 - 35cm), sit at least 2m from the board, 50 - 60cm from the computer screen. Correct sitting posture, suitable lighting and especially limiting electronic devices for children under 5 years old are important principles.

In addition, children need to increase outdoor activities at least 1.5 - 2 hours/day - a measure that has been proven by many studies to help limit the progression of myopia. A complete nutritional regimen, supplemented with foods rich in vitamins and minerals (carrots, pumpkin, dark green vegetables, salmon, eggs, milk, fresh fruit) is also very necessary. Each family needs to take their children for regular eye exams from 3 - 4 years old, check their vision every 6 - 12 months for early detection and timely treatment, especially for children with risk factors.

Taking care of children's eye health is not only the responsibility of the health sector, but also the responsibility of the whole society. Families need to care for and accompany children in their studies and activities; create a learning environment with enough light; build a scientific and reasonable timetable between study and exercise. Schools need to pay attention to lighting conditions, standard desks and chairs, and organize more outdoor physical activities. The education and health sectors need to coordinate closely to screen, detect early and intervene promptly for children with refractive errors.

Bright, healthy eyes not only help children learn well, but also lay the foundation for comprehensive development, confidence and creativity. The increasing incidence of refractive errors in children is a strong warning bell. Early, coordinated and decisive action is the only way to protect the light of childhood and nurture the dreams and aspirations of future generations.

Article and photos: Quynh Chi

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/bao-ve-anh-sang-tuoi-tho-nuoi-duong-uoc-mo-nbsp-khat-vong-cho-the-he-tuong-lai-260494.htm