Researchers to study myopia prevention measures

Around 450 children aged six to ten will be selected for the program run by the National University Health System and the National Parks Board over a 12-month period starting from May, the Straits Times said.

Half of the children and their families will visit a different park each weekend for organized activities such as guided tours and games, the report said. The other half will not take part in the park activities to allow researchers to compare the two groups and study the effects of spending more time outdoors.

Studies in recent years in the United States have shown that children who spend more time outdoors cut their risk of suffering from myopia by up to 20 percent. Scientists believe this is because unobstructed views train the eyes to see better.

Saw Seang Mei, a professor at the National University Health System who led the research, said the reason for the high rate of myopia in Singapore is that children stay indoors and spend a considerable amount of time reading and writing.

"Children with myopia are more likely to become blind later in life, due to diseases like macular degeneration, so we need to intervene early," she said.

If the outdoor program is successful, it will be expanded to a larger trial of 2,000 children early next year. Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version