Vol. 1, Issue 1, Part F (2014)

Aim: To explore whether increased outdoor playtime could act as a protective factor against myopia development in school-age children.

Methods: This school-based observational study investigated the relationship between outdoor playtime and myopia development in 100 participants aged between 7 and 12 years.

Results: Participants reported spending an average of 2.5 hours per day engaged in outdoor play activities (standard deviation = 0.8). The results demonstrated a statistically significant negative correlation between outdoor playtime and myopia development (r = -0.35, p<0.05). Notably, those who spent more time outdoors tended to have a lower likelihood of developing myopia. Specifically, participants with a higher outdoor playtime (≥3 hours per day) exhibited a myopia prevalence rate of 20%, while those with lower outdoor playtime (<1 hour per day) had a myopia prevalence rate of 40%.To control for potential confounding factors, multiple regression analysis was conducted, considering age, parental myopia status, and socioeconomic status. Even after adjusting for these variables, the association between outdoor playtime and myopia development remained statistically significant (β = -0.28, p<0.05).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that increased outdoor playtime may act as a protective factor against myopia development in school-age children. These results highlight the potential importance of encouraging outdoor activities as part of a comprehensive approach to reducing the risk of myopia among school-age children.