Is Staying Indoors Too Much Bad for My Eyes?
Yes, staying indoors too much is bad for your eyes! A break from work or school is always a good time to spend more time outdoors – for recreation, leisure, and great health!
For children and adults alike, a largely indoor and sedentary lifestyle is not healthy.
The current COVID-19 pandemic is likely forcing you to spend more time indoors than you usually would be. Please be mindful that spending time outdoors, while safely social distancing, is good for your overall and eye health.
ENVISION EYE CARE OAKVILLE TEAM
While sometimes it is necessary for your mental health to grab a nice warm blanket and curl up on the couch for a great movie with the family, spending all of your time indoors isn’t necessarily healthy- for your body OR your eyes!
The fresh air and sunlight that you get from going outside can have many benefits for your overall health, and for your eyesight. Ensuring you set aside some time every day to take a break from the video games and Netflix to get outside will have positive effects all around.
What is Myopia?
More commonly known as nearsightedness, myopia is a vision disorder that basically means that you need things nearer to your face in order to see them clearly.
This change in eyesight can result from looking at objects too close to your face for too long (like screens), or from spending too much time under artificial lights rather than the natural light found outdoors. So even if you and the kids take regular breaks from screens and practice the 20-20-20 rule, getting outside for a significant part of the day is really the best option.
Though myopia seems like just an inconvenience, it can actually lead to more serious concerns as kids grow like cataracts, glaucoma, and even blindness.
What Can I Do to Help?
Get outside
Making a commitment to spend at least an hour or more outdoors every day can significantly decrease the chances of developing myopia. Whether you sit on your porch and read a book, go for a walk, do some gardening or just take in the view, giving your eyes some fresh air and taking away the need to stare at the artificial backlight of screens will have positive results.
Take screen breaks often
Staring at a screen all day is bad for your eyes, no matter how old you are. From kids to adults, we all spend much more time looking at screens than we used to in past decades, and the data proves it. The rate of myopia is increasing across the board. Taking regular breaks from the screen to give your eyes a rest is the best solution, especially if you can get outside and away from artificial lights. When you do have to spend time looking at a screen, make sure you follow the 20-20-20 rule to help maintain eye health.
Hang out with natural light
When you are indoors set up a space that has plenty of natural light. Spending time in the basement or a dark playroom forces the eyes to strain, especially when you add screens into the mix. If you can’t be outside for enough of the day, make a point to spend time in rooms with big windows and lots of light.
Staying indoors can affect your eyesight
It’s no secret that childhood is an important time when it comes to development- especially with eyesight! It’s clear that spending too much time indoors under artificial light and looking at screens can cause damage that is hard to reverse.
This spring commits to spending time together outdoors. Not only will you help ensure healthy eyesight for both you and your kids, you’ll likely make some great memories in the process!
See your eye doctor regularly
Though office hours are disrupted right now with the recent COVID-19 mandates, feel free to communicate with us for updates.
Visiting your optometrist for regular check-ups can help you stay ahead of any possible eye health concerns before they get too severe. Getting in for a yearly exam will help ensure you are wearing the proper prescription if you wear glasses, and help catch it early if you get to the point of needing some. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is easily managed if caught early, and getting outside and away from artificial lights is the easiest treatment there is.