The Apple vision health features upcoming update is exciting, particularly the new Time Spent in Daylight feature, but some enhancements may be needed for the Screen Distance feature.
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My son and I were filled with anticipation as we eagerly awaited this year's Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, WWDC. We were excited to be inspired by the unveiling of cool new devices and innovations. However, little did we know that Apple had something remarkable up their sleeve. On the same day, through a press release, they pleasantly surprised us by revealing two new Health app features designed to address myopia.Ā
In this article, we will delve into the research that supports Apple's vision health features and discuss the initial impression of the promise they hold in managing myopia.
Understanding the impact and importance of addressing myopia
The global impact of myopia is significant, with an estimated 2.6 billion people affected in 2020. Furthermore, its prevalence is projected to rise to approximately 50% by 2050, emphasizing the growing need to address this issue.1
The development of myopia is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Certain genetic factors, such as ethnicity and having myopic parents, can increase the likelihood of developing myopia. Additionally, environmental factors, including spending less time outdoors and engaging in extensive near-work activities, also contribute significantly to its development.2,3
When treating progressive myopia, it is crucial to go beyond merely correcting vision. Addressing the abnormal elongation of the eye is paramount. It is important to recognize that, without appropriate treatment, excessive eye growth in myopia can lead to serious vision-threatening complications, such as myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment, cataracts, and glaucoma. Therefore, effective management of myopia is essential in order to reduce these risks and promote healthy vision in children affected by this condition.3
Is the Time Spent in Daylight feature useful?
The Time Spent in Daylight feature introduced by Apple shows great promise. Research studies have indicated that increased outdoor time can significantly reduce the risk of myopia onset and progression. This protective effect is believed to be attributed to exposure to daylight, which stimulates the release of dopamineāa hormone responsible for regulating eye growth.4
Now, the question arises: how much outdoor time is necessary to protect against myopic stimuli? Experts from the International Myopia Institute (IMI) recommend that children should aim to spend at least 80-120 minutes outdoors each day.5
To facilitate tracking of outdoor time and help achieve this target, Apple introduces the Time Spent in Daylight feature, incorporating the IMI's outdoor time recommendation. With the release of watchOS 10 update in September 2023, Apple Watch would be able to utilize its ambient light sensor to measure the duration spent in daylight.6 This means that by wearing the watch, your child's outdoor time can be automatically monitored and recorded. You can conveniently review the amount of time spent in daylight with your child through the Health app on an iPhone or iPad.
While the idea is excellent, one potential consideration I hope to test is the usability of the feature during the winter months when the watch may be covered by a jacket or shirt sleeve. Nevertheless, this new development holds great promise for a more convenient and accurate method of monitoring outdoor time.
How does the Screen Distance feature compare?
Engaging in excessive near work, including reading at a close distance of 20 to 25 centimeters or engaging in continuous reading for more than 45 minutes, is an important risk factor for myopia progression.3
To address this concern, Apple introduces a Screen Distance feature that utilizes the TrueDepth camera found in iPhone and iPad devices (September 2023). This feature encourages users to maintain an appropriate distance from their devices by reminding them to move their devices farther away if they have been held closer than 12 inches for an extended period of time. By promoting healthy viewing habits, especially among younger users, this feature can help reduce the risk of myopia and also provides adult users with a way to minimize digital eyestrain.6
While Apple's Screen Distance feature is a step in the right direction, there are other apps in the market, such as vision.app (Apple App) or myopia.app (Andriod App), which offer more advanced functionalities. These apps track not only device-to-eye distance but also provide ambient brightness monitoring, a maximal time limit for screen usage time to prompt users to take eye breaks, and others. If Apple intends to match the capabilities of these existing solutions, they will need to catch up when rolling out the feature in the future.
Conclusion
The upcoming Health app update is definitely something to be excited about, especially with its innovative and free-to-use vision health features. Time Spent in Daylight feature on the Apple Watch holds promising potential in aiding myopia management. While the Screen Distance feature may require some adjustments to match existing solutions, there is no doubt that Apple has the ability to make a significant impact on vision health.Ā
In the meantime, as we await the release of the update in September, I can already envision my son eagerly honing his persuasive techniques and eagerly looking forward to the upcoming Black Friday in July.
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1.Ā Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, Jong M, Naidoo KS, Sankaridurg P, et al. Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(5):1036ā42. [Link]
2. Recko M, Stahl ED. Childhood myopia: epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention. Mo Med. 2015 Mar-Apr;112(2):116-21. [Link]
3. NĆ©meth, JĆ”nos et al. āUpdate and guidance on management of myopia. European Society of Ophthalmology in cooperation with International Myopia Institute.ā European journal of ophthalmology vol. 31,3 (2021): 853-883. [Link]
4. Wu PC, Tsai CL, Wu HL, et al. Outdoor activity during class recess reduces myopia onset and progression in school children. Ophthalmology 2013; 120: 1080ā1085 [Link]
5. International Myopia Institute. āIMI Clinical Summary.ā Accessed Jun 2023. [Link]
6. Apple. (June 5, 2023) āApple provides powerful insights into new areas of health.ā Accessed Jun 2023. [Link]
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